Afridi takes a U-turn, says didn’t question Sachin’s greatness

New Delhi: Just a day after claiming that he saw Sachin Tendulkar's legs trembling while facing Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan's former captain Shahid Afridi has now stated that he did not intend to question the Indian batting icon's greatness and was only talking about one incident.

"I am not denying what I have said. I have seen that Tendulkar was not at all comfortable against Shoaib in Kolkata Test in 1999. It was Shoaib's first tour of India and he bowled out Sachin without giving him a chance to open his account. He also claimed (Rahul) Dravid's wicket in both the innings," Afridi said from Karachi.

"Shoaib was in full form on that tour and had tremendous speed. He terrorised almost all the batsmen in the world at that time. I have seen Sachin trembling as I was fielding at square leg. I am still saying that.

"But this was only one incident. He never spared Shoaib after that. We all have seen what happened in 2003 World Cup," he added.

Afridi went on to state that the Indian batsman does not need his certificate.

"Sachin is one of the best batsmen and the whole world knows this. He does not need mine or anybody else's certificate. His records speak for him," Afridi said.

The controversy-prone former captain on Saturday backed his Akhtar's claim that Tendulkar was uncomfortable against his pace, saying that he had once witnessed the Indian batsman "trembling" while facing the pacer.

Afridi, who retired after revolting against his own board and has a history of making controversial remarks, said Tendulkar was uneasy against Akhtar, a claim which the pacer made in his recently-launched autobiography 'Controversially Yours'.

Afridi said his remarks should not be construed as demeaning to Tendulkar.

"I am not raising any question on Sachin's greatness. Everyone knows that how many sixes Sachin has smashed on Shoaib's bowling after that. But sometimes it happens. I got out on a duck against a weak opponent like Zimbabwe in Peshawar when I was at the peak of my career," he said.

"Any batsman can go through this on a good wicket and opposite a good bowler. That was Shoaib's day and Sachin was nervous that day. Media should not read much into it as it can happen to Don Bradman as well," added the all-rounder.

Afridi huge fan of Sachin 

Afridi said he is a huge fan of Tendulkar both on and off the field.

"I am a huge fan of Sachin. He is not only a great cricketer but a humble human being as well. I have only one photograph on the wall of my drawing room and that is of Sachin. It has Sachin's autograph on it, do I need to say more," said Afridi.

When asked if he will talk to Tendulkar to clarify his position on this issue, he said that there is no need for it.

"The whole matter is blown out of proportion by Indian media. Sachin is a great cricketer and he will understand what I am saying. I have not said anything wrong," he said.

"Media should play a positive role to reduce tension between the two neighbours. When we went to play the World Cup in India earlier this year, we saw all the negative reporting against Pakistani team. Indians love and respect us but not their media," he said.

On the possibility of his comeback to international cricket, he said that he wants to play for another two-three years.

"Inshah Allah, I will be back in national team. I think I can play for 2-3 years. I am not going to beg for it but I know that I will represent Pakistan again," said Afridi.

Gul claims he saw Anderson tamper with ball

Karachi: Pakistan speedster Umar Gul is set to kick up a storm as he has claimed that he saw English pacer James Anderson tamper with the ball last year during a Test match.

The seasoned pacer, who is tipped to make a comeback to the national side for the coming series against Sri Lanka, said ball-tampering was not new in international cricket and it was being done through legal and illegal methods by many bowlers and teams. 
"I saw Anderson do it last year when we went to England. Then in the Ashes series Stuart Broad was seen roughing up the ball with his boots. All these methods are part and parcel of the game to obtain reverse swing with the old ball," Gul said.

"Most of the bowlers tamper with the ball in international cricket," he added.

Gul's comments that are likely to ignite a new debate came when reporters asked him about the remarks made by Shoaib Akhtar in his controversial autobiography recently released in India.

The retired fast bowler, in his book, has admitted to ball-tampering and claims it is common in Pakistan's domestic cricket. Shoaib has called on the ICC to legalise ball-tampering. Gul said if Shoaib was saying he tampered with the ball he must have done it.

"I can't say much on that but yes many bowlers do it. When you use finger nails to scratch the ball it is illegal but when the fielders keep on throwing the ball on rough and dry pitches or the ball hits the advertising boards and sponsors signs, it is not illegal," he said.

Gul said whether the ball was roughed up legally or illegally it remained an art to obtain reverse swing with it.

"Obtaining reverse swing is an art and must be recognized as one."

But Gul didn't agree with Shoaib's suggestion to legalise ball tampering insisting this would spoil the beauty of the game.

"It should not be legalised because laws can't be changed on this and it should remain an art."

Gul, who has taken 125 Test, 134 ODI and 47 wickets in T20 cricket, said Pakistani bowlers had always been accused of ball-tampering and it was nothing new.

"But in the past no match official has come up with any evidence against us nor has any camera caught us. This talk about ball tampering is not new to us. But reverse swing is something that comes naturally to us and it is an art passed down from generation to generation," he explained.

Ball-tampering allegations have always surrounded the Pakistani bowlers and in 2000 match referee John Reid banned and fined Waqar Younis and Azhar Mahmood for tampering with the ball in Sri Lanka.

In 2010 in Australia, former captain Shahid Afridi was also banned by the ICC when he was caught on camera chewing the ball.

Shoaib Akhtar has also been penalised for ball tampering. The pacer also spoke on Shoaib's disparaging remarks against batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.

"I can't say specifically that I saw Tendulkar running away from Shoaib but no one can deny that when Shoaib was at his fastest and best the world's best batsmen were nervous against him and there is no batsmen who is not nervous or ruffled when facing a pure fast bowler.

"Even Brian Lara who I rate as the world's best batsman admitted to feeling ruffled when he was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Shoaib," Gul said.

Akhtar could make best batsmen nervous: Gul

Karachi: Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul said Shoaib Akhtar, when at his best, could ruffle the best batsmen in the world including West Indian great Brian Lara.

Akhtar, who retired after the World Cup earlier this year, had created a stir by claiming in his autobiography that the Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar was scared to face him.

Gul did not directly comment on Akhtar's remarks on Tendulkar but said the former quick with his sheer pace could make even the best in the business nervous.

"I can't say specifically that I saw Tendulkar running away from Shoaib, but no one can deny that when Shoaib was at his fastest and best, the world's best batsmen were nervous against him. There is no batsmen who is not nervous or ruffled when facing a pure fast bowler," Gul was quoted as saying in espncricinfo.com

"Even Brian Lara, who I rate as the world's best batsman, admitted to feeling ruffled when he was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Shoaib."

Gul said he is opposed to legalising ball tampering as against Akhtar, who in the autobiography suggested to "set rules" for tampering.

He feels if the ball tampering is made legal, it would make it too easy to bowl reverse swing, which is an art, and some of the beauty of the game would be lost.

"I don't think the way is to legalise it. Leave cricket with its traditional ways rather than making changes that would take all the charm out of it," he said.

Lata surprised by Shoaib's remarks on Sachin

Mumbai: Singing legend Lata Mangeshkar is surprised at the comments of Pakistani bowler Shoaib Akhtar on ace cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.

In his just-released book "Controversially Yours", Akhtar has claimed that batting maestro Tendulkar was afraid of facing his deliveries and that he and Rahul Dravid lack the "art of finishing the game".

"Did he really say that Sachin was scared to face his bowling? Look, no one can take away from Sachin what he has achieved. Anyone who speaks ill of someone as great as Sachin is making more a comment on himself than on anyone else," said Lata, who turned 82 Wednesday.

Promotional event of Shoaib Akhtar's book called off

Mumbai: Close on the heels of scheduled release of Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar's controversial book being cancelled on Sunday, another function which was supposed to be attended by the cricketer on Monday for promotion of his autobiography has also been called off.

"The event has been cancelled. As of now, he (Shoaib) is not coming to Mumbai," sources said.

Former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar was to release Akhtar's autobiography "Controversially Yours" at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) premises on Sunday.

According to speculations, the cancellation of the event could be due to less-than-flattering remarks in his autobiography about iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar and another senior player Rahul Dravid

In his tell-all autobiography, Akhtar has made many controversial claims.
Akhtar has written that Sachin lacked the ability to finish matches in the initial stages of his career.

He drew flak for his comments from several quarters, including former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram, under whom he made his debut and senior BCCI functionary Rajiv Shukla.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, 15 NCP activists were detained in Thane for allegedly trying to burn an effigy of Akhtar before the Municipal Corporation office.

A protest was held in suburban Dahisar against Akhtar yesterday in which demonstrators carried his posters on backs of donkeys.

Sachin may be your God, not mine, says an unapologetic Shoaib Akhtar

Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar, refusing to apologize for his controversial remarks on Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, said on Wednesday, "Why should I apologize for speaking the truth?" 

Akhtar seemed to be unashamed of the controversial remark in his book --"Controversially Yours” released in New Delhi on Saturday— on cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Despite a mass disapproval of people, in his book, Akhtar claimed that they do not have the ability to finish matches and to be match winners.

A defiant Akhtar said, "He may be your God but he’s not mine,” Akhtar said of Sachin Tendulkar.”

He also added saying, "If your God gets hit on the head there’s nothing to feel bad about. It’s a game of cricket and things happen,”.

"Every player has a bad day and bad times. If he was scared or didn’t perform in one series and I said it — why do you have such a fragile ego?"

Shah Rukh Khan and Lalit Modi 'a cheater'?

Akhtar is also said to have called Shah Rukh Khan and Lalit Modi “a cheater”. King Khan termed Akhtar’s comment as a publicity stunt. “I have heard that he has said something about me. I think whatever he has said is a ploy to sell his book. We should not be falling into the trap,” said Shah Rukh during a recent media interaction.

Akhtar, who has admitted to the charges of ball tampering previously, is controversy’s favourite child. In 2003 he and then captain Waqar Younis were involved in a verbal spat for which both were suspended. In the same year, during a series against Sri Lanka, Akhtar was banned for tampering with the ball — only the second player in the history of cricket. In 2006, Akhtar and teammate Mohammed Asif tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance called nandrolone.