KARACHI, Feb 16: Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is seeking an apology from Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer after being reportedly abused by them during his brief stay on the ill-fated tour of South Africa.

According to sources close to Shoaib, the fiery speedster has threatened to take both Inzamam and Woolmer to court if they fail to tender an apology for what Shoaib describes as ‘insulting behaviour’ on part of the duo during second Test against South Africa at Port Elizabeth last month.

The sources said that Shoaib, who played a part in Pakistan’s victory in the second Test after being flown to South Africa as a replacement for the injured paceman Umar Gul, was ‘incited’ into exchanging hot words with Woolmer after being accused of feigning a hamstring injury when he broke down in the first innings.

Sources added that the incident was set up by Inzamam who has, apparently, held a grudge against Shoaib since the time he became Pakistan captain.

The sources further added that Shoaib was provoked into behaving in the manner in which he did since it was Woolmer who pushed Shoaib first and tried to slap him in the dressing-room. They claimed that both Woolmer and Inzamam were trying to find an excuse to send Shoaib home.

During the heated altercation, Woolmer allegedly called Shoaib ‘blacky’ in presence of Inzamam and other players. Shoaib was subsequently fined $2500 for his outburst but the sources claim that in fact, he was slapped with a fine of $5000 by team manager Talat Ali who conducted an inquiry into the incident.

The sources also claim that unless Inzamam and Woolmer tender an apology in public, Shoaib is willing to pull out of Pakistan’s squad for the forthcoming World Cup in the West Indies.