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“I am sick of clarifying my statements about Tendulkar. I never said he was a coward or scared of me. If these people had put in the effort of reading my book, they would realize I was talking about a specific day and a specific test played in Pakistan. He was struggling with a tennis elbow and our strategy was to target him with short balls. He got struck a couple of times and on the head in Karachi and walked away from me. I felt he was uncomfortable and scared at that moment. That is what I felt and I’ll stick to it.” -Photo by AFP
After coming under fire for several days, former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar shot back at critics in India and beyond, saying he could not be forced into praising India’s batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.
“I have my personal favourites which include Viv Richard, Brian Lara and Imran Khan and I can take nothing away from the greatness of Sachin Tendulkar. But you can’t put a gun to my head and force me to like him. For me, Viv Richards remains the greatest batsman and he won more matches for West Indies. This is my opinion and I stand by it,” Akhtar said in an interview with an Indian news channel as the storm created by the launch of his autobiography “Controversially Yours” continued.
He also tore into former Pakistan and Indian players saying they were towing the lines of their employers in criticizing him “for a few bucks.”
“I am sick of clarifying my statements about Tendulkar. I never said he was a coward or scared of me. If these people had put in the effort of reading my book, they would realize I was talking about a specific day and a specific test played in Pakistan. He was struggling with a tennis elbow and our strategy was to target him with short balls. He got struck a couple of times and on the head in Karachi and walked away from me. I felt he was uncomfortable and scared at that moment. That is what I felt and I’ll stick to it. Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid when they played against me did not win, so to me they were not match-winners. Don’t buy my book, borrow it from someone and read what I have said, they are facts and incidents,” he said.
Shifting his focus to Pakistan cricket and specifically Wasim Akram and Ijaz Butt he claimed the duo needed to look at their character before making statements.
“Wasim Akram…there can only be one. But he needs to look at his own past. He was fined by a court for his involvement in match-fixing and even had a player’s revolt against him. He was abusive and had a bad attitude. What position is he in to say anything to me? For me even if a person’s name comes up in something slightly related to fixing, I lose respect. Shoaib Malik’s name came up too and I don’t respect him anymore.”
Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman (PCB), Ijaz Butt, who had recently called Akhtar a madcap and termed his statements as “bullshit”, also copped some flak.
“A person who responded to the match-fixing allegations against Pakistan by accusing the English players of match-fixing cannot be taken seriously. He is old and I don’t think a person of his caliber should be acting like the way he does.”
Akhtar also responded to suggestions that he was breaking the “unspoken code” between teammates by saying his book was his frank opinion and that it was meant to be a learning experience for future Pakistan cricketers and even the management.
To a conclusive question about what India needed to do to be a better fast-bowling unit he said, “The attitude is missing. When they run in they must strike fear in the hearts of batsmen.”
“Whether I was unfit, had back niggles or was limping, I ran in gave everything.
“Additionally, India needs to get on the road, get a group of about 50 fast bowlers and put them in the fast bowling academy.”
I have never seen a fast bowler running with lots of energy and bowling with 150kmh each time like Shoaib Akhter.what he said about Sachine and Dravid seems appropriate to me like the words in the holy Bible.I have been following the game of cricket since 12 but i observed that Inzamam and David Hussy are real match winners.There is a rumor in Bangladesh that when Sachine scores 100 and above,India will lose the game and in fact most of the time India lost the game to our utter surprise.Anyone might have observed that Inzamam and David Hussy scored 40/50 their team won.so,to be impartial i am in the favor of the statement that Sachine and Dravid are great players but not match winners.Shoaib is no doubt a great fast bowler and a match winner of all time.
Shoaib Akhtar is a genuine guy! I have always liked his approach to cricket on and off the field. One of his best qualities is that ‘he does not take crap from no one’!
Love you Bro & I will certainly buy your book!!
No one can dispute Shoaib was one of the fastest bowler. And nor can one deny his right to have an opinion. Fine!
Shoaib was almost destined to achieve greatness. But he simply lost his way with his attitude and antics. And now these cheap allegations will not get him another shot at greatness.
Just learn from Pakistan's finest, Zaheer Abbas — a cricketer and a gentleman.
Shoaib Bhai, you are making statements without any basis. I checked out the video footage the match you are mentioning. I don't see any nervousness on Sachin's face. I understand your confidence level may be high in the match but doesn't take away anything from Sachin.
Shoaib was better than Imranbhai given that Imranbhai was a leader at his peak. Shoaib has to deal with more internal politics.
Shoaib is the best !
Dear all Cricket lovers – I am sure all those who are fair and love the sports cricekt they should support Shoaib Akhtar that Wasim Akram – is the same person who let Pakistan circket down in quater final of world cup in Mohali 1996 few minutes beofore the toss on behest of bookies he declared himself unfit it was the joke of all time when he let down entire Pakistan but becasue bookies have solid in roads everywhere in cricekt set up therefore Wasim was keep playing but when ICC completed the investiation in match fixming saga of Wasim Akram they told PCB ask wasim to retire now or face the consequences hence directly from Hampshire county Wasim landed in Lahore and announced his retirement from all form of cricekt. Now Wasim being a cricktier is earning is lovelly hood by performing as a commentator but note down he must be busy there to safe guard the interest of bookies – I heard in one match he did a big no ball as that match was fixed hy his brother but it was amazing that other party bought the umpire therefore after droping the big no ball Wasim was unable to help his brother.
Wasim should be banned by ICC even for commentary assigements. Shoaib Akhtar was let down by prodigy of Wasim Kamran Akmal otherwise Shoaib have taken more wicket than wasim in both form of cricekt. Shoaib i agree with you Viv Richard/Brian Lara and you miss to mentioned our Javed Miadad are greater batsman than Sachin Tendlkar and Rahul Dravid – Richard/Lara and Miadad based on their outstanding performance their respective counties hav won many matches. Sahchi/Rahul are may be better match saver but they are not match winners they play for their own milesontes.
Shoaib thank you for publishing CONTEVERSIOAL YOURS because once you read this from start to end than cricekt lovers can get great insight about world of cricekt. Good luck to you – I belvie still few year of good crikcet is left in you and as soon as Ejaz Butt goes please make a comeback dear great cricekt of this world.
I think this is another way of making money by promoting a book that was so low key…But you are and will always be the best bowler in the world…
Shoaib, is this not the same Wasim of whose hymns you used to sing day in and day out during and even some years after his captaincy. If Wasim was fined by court were you not also caught red handed of ball tempering and using prohibitive substances which in your own words should also strip you of any sort of respect. I think you need to be reminded that for the last 3 years of your career you were a liability as you used to play one match and at times sat out for the whole series while receiving match fee generously. I am, like many others are, pretty sure that you have done this just to make some quick bucks because besides chucking you yourself know that you have no other talent and this is the only way you can earn
To me, cricket is a sport for gentlemen and people with discipline. Aktar is a great bowler and he scared lots of great batsmen. But he was lacking in discipline and sportsmanship. That is big trade-off that nuetralizes his talents.
But I support him to have his right of opinion.
I lOve ur attitude shoaib
Shoaib Bhai.. I definitely agree with you.. you scared Sachin.. the very ball bowled by you to sachin.. he showed his middle stumps…
But touch your heart and say.. " Dont you Chuck ".. Even though ICC has cleared.. your bend arm bowling generated more pace.. you throwed in your entire career.. Every Pakistani knows it. You are commenting legends like Wasim Akram, who is a genuine all rounder… By throwing or chucking you have got this Fame.. which is a Disgrace…
Does that mean Shoaib was scared and his knees were trembling when Tendulkar was belting him all around the park in the 2003 world cup on a fast and bouncy pitch in South Africa?
No doubt about Sachin's greatness…but Is shoaib not entitled to his opinion…if yes…is he not free to speak it in India?
Ofcourse he is…Thatswhy he is allowed to speak in India.
What ever u say,ou cannnot deny the fact that he was a superb fast bowler and batsman from all creicket playing nations became tense he ran up to bowl.
@Shoaib Akhtar:
Love your attitude!
plz recall 2003 worldcup quaterfinal's Shoaib's first spell that will explain all.can i ask shoaib why he didn't want to ball next over after hammered by sachin for 19runs.
thats a narrow thinking which looks shallow…all players have such incidents…so broaden ur horizon
yeah agreed to u masood
Shoaib was afraid of Sachin that's why he didn't bowl next over in world cup 2003 after getting hammered in his first over.
Shoaib , you are the greatest.Still I would love to see your run up..When you you were young in 1999 ,I know how they struggled against you.But the fact is Pakistandont know how to manage their talent and players.Infights ,fixing ,politics …u name it , it is in the Pakistan team.
I agree Pakistan produce great bowlers with sharp skills, but Shoiab was more chunky than a great bowler,his bowling action helped him what he was fame for, but I also agree with his opinion for Sachin – it was an instance. I am not sure whether he has mentioned about such instance for himself, every great perfomer has some weakenes. Sohaib if you are true then mention ur instances as well when you got scared for hammered down by batsman. I agreee with other writers as well that you are not that great bowler to commentor question on great cricket legends.
To be honest, i was never impressed with Shoaib's bowling performance as a cricket spectator for the last 18 years. He was fast but he was neither economical nor intelligent. Many bowlers who came after Shoaib like umer, and sami etc did do much more intelligent bowling despite of their lesser pace on the ball. Shoaib rarely wrapped up tail ending batsmen like Wasim and Waqar did. I still have those flying and breaking wickets stuck in my mind. I thought if he were more smarter a bowler than his speed, he would have by now been bowling for Pakistan. He was a good bowler but he couldn't become a legendary bowler despite of his pace.
100% Agreed…U must be Indian dear…
True. Shoiab was fast, but probably the dumbest fast bowler ever from Pakistan. In the 150K plus club of Bond, Lee and Shoiab, Bond was the best whose injuries cost him a great carrier.
Shoaib is right about Butt
He's definitely got a bad-boy attitude. But that's what everybody likes about Shoaib. We all remember the bad boys in our high school class, don't we? And red mirchi sells at a higher price than sugar!
I'll take Dravid over Tendulkar anyday!
He was the greatest bowler but he didn't know the trick to PCB's puppet. The bottom line is he is one of the very few honest players in Pak cricket like Imran Khan & Shahid Afridi.
Shoiab bhai why don't you become Indian bowling coach and produce 50 fast bowlers for us. We would love to see someone like you and we would like to give credit for it. Contact BCCI and put this proposal in front of them.
Congratulations to the writer and to this wonderful newspaper to present the news with objectivity, something that make sense. I read the same news in the other news paper, they put the sensational spin to it. Just goes to say that how controversies can be created out of nothing by miscommunication (inadvertent or deliberate)
Cha gaya Shoaib… Now thats what I call smart move. Shoaib bhai, finally ur honesty paid off…. Good on you. I have always been a fan of yours even when you had allegedly problems with your attitude which I think was just a story too. Even when you were away from team, I knew that you will be the one one day. I am so happy for you.
Shoaib Akhter, there is no doubt a fantastic pacer but suffered a lot becuase of those bad guys in PCB Management. He is absolutely right, Wasim should recall the past so everything will be clear to him.
Shoib n Tendulkar both are legends. Our bowling line up is superb, and on the other side indias batting line up is unbeatable.
I do not know , why we r so sensitive about Sachin , Shoaib is right , Sachin is a great batsman , but the fact remains , that he has rarely delivered , when it is needed the most.
Take for example , the recent Lords test match , the world cup final , the list is endless.
I love my country , but let's admit Shoaib has sent some straight fast deliveries , which is making people uncomfortable.
He is telling the truth Guys, whether u like it or not doesn't matter !!
Guys, I am sick of people saying Tendulkar is not a match winner. I would request you to look at the stats in to matches where in Tendulkar was highest scorer for India and how many of these matches India has won!!! Out of close to 100 centuries that he has scored, more than 70% ODI matches were won. Regards to tests – let us not forget the kind of team that he was part of in ninties. He scored so many hundreds in a loosing cause in tests just for the reason that he was the only guy with any amount of class in the entire batting line up.
I am the fan of cricket….
Shoaib was the gr8 bowler when he was young but it is also true that he was also equally controversial.There is the only difference between two gr8 is the character and sole…. sachin never made it public the inter team delegations like most of the the pakistani players do it reduces the spirit of team.That is the reason why no one player of India who shared dressing room with him respects him and vice versa for akthar.
He is saying that sachin is not good finisher I agree…but he is the good beginner of the ODIs that is too be noted….I think talking about anyones weaknesses is the for getting fame only….India is a democratic thats why he published his book in India…We respect his opinion…Even I saw that match and I even agree with that for certain extent…But the thing is that How much respect Akthar Has got in his own team ?
For me I think Wasim,Imran,Anwar,Inzi were the gr8 ones who got respect from your other players even Zahir Abbas.
Groupism within the team and Ego is the problem facing by Pakistan team ……Respect Each Other….
I believe there is nothing wrong with Shoiab's comment about Tandulkar or any other player that are his views others may differ and no one is forcing to agree with him.
Its all about freedom of expression nothing more.
I am a Paki and I dont know or care what Shoaib thinks about Sachin. Little master has done so much for his country and for Cricket, which can not be ignored. Maybe on a day or two, Shoaib had his luck but that does not make Sachin qualities any lesser. He is the best batsman the world has seen, and he at times can even contribute with the ball more than Shoaib can do with the bat.
You think he is the greatest batsmen world has seen, because you probably never saw Viv Ricahrds play. I suggest you should and than make that statement.
I also watched both Viv Richards and Sachin and for me Sachin was the one who played with more responsibility and shared the entire burden of a country on his shoulders. I would love to see Viv, Ricky Ponting etc to be the boots of Sachin, Lara, Dravid or Sunny and carry the load of entire nation before being rated as the greatest of their generations.
Well said
Besides the expectations from the team and the country
Don't forget Viv never had to face the best fast bowling of his time! For that matter neither did Ricky Ponting
Yepp !!! What Shoab has mentioned is his opinion.
But he is a great bowler.Fast bowlers have always less patience
I feel Afridi and Shoab Akhtar are great players!!!
Great to see them play besides Imran and Akram.
It was a low profile book,Thanks to the indian media it has become a well known book at last.
My full support is with Shoiab, specially after his clarification and remarks on Sachin in Indian Media. Unfortunately, Pak Cricket and PCB itself is a corrupt organization run by corrupt people, staying since long time without major change in organization. I am sure they are involved and making good money through Cricketers. That is the reason they don't allow any deserved cricketer to join the Pak team.
Love him or hate him, you can't take his right to speak. I think whatever he said in this interview or at the launch of the book are his personal opinions about players or PCB, and one should accept them as it is. One doesn't need to be defensive or aggressive in response to his comments. He's not taking anyone to court for what he thinks about them.
Good on you shaibo … never back down. they can say whatever they want to now but you showed them how to spell "fast", you set the tone for the rest to follow. Cheers Mate. A pel from Morgah.
It is his opinion. If you guys don't like him dont read his book. Shoaib is not compelling to read his book. Media wants to sell there copies making this as a big story. Every one has his own opinion. I really like his bowling and stamina of this young mang. God bless him.
He has a right to opinion..agreed…but where do you stop?
Now he is talking sense. Indian media has the capability to dig out controvercies out of nothing. Shoaib's right of opinion can not be denied. As far as his career is concerned, he was the biggest enemy of himself.
I am just a fan of cricket now..I was a passionate Indian fanbut now i realize that India's fast bowling department is a joke. I love to watch Sachin play but towards the end of his career now he has not made any match winning performance. it is not far to ask him to do so. Shoaib Akhtar's comments should bother the Indian board and do something about it. He had his moments…he has got a lot of followers in India..not sure why he has to explain his reasons. He should try to build the gap between the two nations and help with fast bowling with both countries.
Way to go Shoaib…
He has a right to have an opinion.. why is everyone not ok with that?
YEs. He has a rigt to his opinion. The others ALSO have a right to their opinion – which may include disagreeing with him.
Shoaib can say you cannot put a gun on my head – and frankly no one has. But he has also made uncharitable comments.
Shoab is right.But he has made one mistake of selecting India for his book inauguration. Better to arrange the launching ceremony in Pakistan if not at expensive avenue, good to arrange it at any small press somewhere in remote part of the country.
And khanbhai who will buy the book? What shoaib has done is sold thousands of copies by inaugurating in india. He's got smart publishers and marketers helping him with the book.
I would tell you one thing. If the book carries some readable stuff it does not need marketing experts or good publishers.
This interview sounds more sensible as compared to previous details came in about his autobiography. Yes he is surely entitled to have his views and whats wrong with it. But one thing remains true with Rawalpindi Express, He is very courageous person.
I fully agree
You don't have to like him,its your choice
This whole drama about the Cricket world is disgusting! When will these people grow up, or even attempt to grow up!
Why should they ? They made a lot of money doing this . There has never been a period in the cricket history, when such controversy did not raise head . Occasionally they make a point but more often they show the meanness of the human spirit.
How many of you remember the pit (for those who do not know, pit is a coal mine in England .it has its connotations) boys making the Aussies squeal, the body line bowling period. They were faster than this chap and more effective. Remember Joel Garner a fantastic man and a colossal presence, he made a dent in the English ego. Never became notorious by shoveling mud on anybody. A man of great dignity and composure he was so tall (physically and metaphorically that the majority of the humanity looked up to him. That is the Greatness.
It is up to you,what you read in it. For me not much. He is a part of the contents of a dust bin of cricket history. How many of you remember Ijaz But batting for Pakistan ? Now he is batting for himself and eternal damnation, tomorrow his godfather and he himself will be as forgotten as a dodo.
Get over it.
Shafiq
What he is saying is true. He was only the fastest bowler in the world in this centuary and has greatest value as a fast bowler. I have a big respect for him.
Go Shabii… Go….
Sports is a sports and you have to play like a player not creating fear into the opposite team member and try to grab the medal. I hope this guy has a serious behavior problem and that why his fell from the cricket.
The man is entitled to an opinion how subjective it might be. He should be listened to as what he has to say and only then should be critiqued or applauded. Taking excerpts out of his book and that too out of context and trying to stir up a controversy is not the right way to go about it. People should read his book first and then they are entitled to their interpretation of it
Do we really care? Whether he likes Sachin or not, whether Sachin was scared or not, the fact is that Sachin can not ball like Shoaib and Shoaib can not bat like Sachin.
bull's eye, asad…exactly
One great 'Shoaib' has an opinion about another great 'Tendulkar'. I honestly do not see anything wrong for him having this opinion!
Bravo! Go on Continue your assault on corrupt cricket system. Miandad to Afridi and you all are victims of dictators.
Commenting from India…still you are one of my favorite Pak players. No you don't have to like Tendulkar but I do believe some of the controversy was manufactured by you and your publisher, which I believe is an Indian company too. Wish you had done full justice to your career as Tendulkar did…that you cannot take away from Tendulkar.