Pakistan cricketers are shaping up, military style

Karachi News.Net Wednesday 23rd July, 2008 (IANS) As in India where cricketers are worshipped like Gods, their Pakistani counterparts, too, have the sort of following that the country's film stars here die for. Pakistani cricketers are the country's biggest celebrities, leaving the popular politicians, actors and scientists far behind. Showmen like Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi follow the sort of lifestyle which is similar to that of football super stars in Europe and South America, like David Beckham or Ronaldo. But not these days. Go to Kakul -- Pakistan's premier military training facility nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas -- at this part of the summer you can see the high-profile cricketers training like novice soldiers. Led by captain Shoaib Malik, around two dozen national players are attending a conditioning... [read full story]