Authorities ignore speedster’s latest fat-reducing surgery saying it’s purely cosmetic.

The latest in Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s saga of getting into trouble is the disclosure that he underwent liposuction to lose weight, a revelation that has not gone down too well with his country’s authorities.

Reports here suggest that the feared 34-year-old pace bowler, who holds the world record of a recorded 161.3 km/h delivery, decided to undergo the procedure in order to have fat sucked from his bulging midriff.

Dr Waqar Ahmad, director general of the Pakistan Sports Board said the Board was unaware of Shoaib’s surgery, adding the operation would help the bowler’s appearance but have no bearing on his future performance.

“The liposuction is a kind of cosmetic procedure and has nothing to do with the fitness of a player”, Ahmad said.

“Mostly it is done for improving the figure and other cosmetic reasons whereas the shedding of weight of more than 12 kg might help him only when he improves his muscle strength and stamina.

“Considering his age, I don’t think he will be able to show any kind of improvement as compared to his previous performance.

“The surgery took about three hours, and fat was removed from his abdomen, hip and back. As a sports medicine specialist I can say that it will take about four to five months to come back in cricket.” Dr Ahmad said: “Liposuction is not a kind of procedure which makes cricketers stronger. The main factor in performance is agility, strength and stamina along with skill; therefore, I don’t think that this procedure will get popularity among other cricketers.”

The PCB is reportedly refusing to cover any of the maverick fast bowler’s expenses.