Shoaib Akhtar has defended his remarks against Sachin Tendulkar made in his book Controversially Yours and says most of his fans support him and only a minority is criticising him.
In an interview with Cricketnext.com, Akhtar said that he had wanted to scare Tendulkar to get him out. He said Tendulkar was not the kind of batsman who gave away his wicket so easily, but on the day he walked away it made him think that the batsman was scared of him.
Akhtar went on to say that he had hit a ball on Tendulkar’s head in the next test match.
“They are your bhagwan, not mine. If bhagwan is hit on the head, there is nothing to be offended about,” said Akhtar.
“This is cricket, sab kuch hota hay.”
The former Pakistani player said on the occasions he had played against India, not once did Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid help their team win the match single handedly.
He said that India was a democracy and nobody was letting him speak.
“Why should I apologise? For speaking the truth? The fans understand what I’m saying,” he said.
Akhtar said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was no one to ask for an apology.
“If you don’t like what I’ve written, don’t buy the book,” said the former fast bowler.
The book was released in New Delhi last week, but its launch in Mumbai on Sunday was cancelled by organisers without any explanation.
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Please try to understand Akhtar, off course Sachin has scored a lot of runs, but he is not a match winner, that's for sure. So why the fuss. In India, players like Kapil, Kirti Azaad, currently Dhoni, and one youngster, whose name if forgot were and are match winners. Can any body show show me any match which Sachin even defended against losing.
Sachin Tendulkar was a great cricket. But not for leadership role. Sachin's personal records are great but he has not had good record for match winning.
@Ali: Shoaib was a great bowler now he wants to sell his book all this is a publicity stunt just CHILL and enjoy your favorite video on youtube .Lets hope we have a India Pakistan match soon they are a treat to watch. Relax folks the match has not even started so why all this hot air?
I felt what shoaib said against sachin, It's 100% true. I respect sachin as a world class batsman but not front of shoaib akhter and bret lee
@Lateral Thinking: lol...ur funny..
the cry from indian media shows who is not tolerant and by telling Pakistanis it seems u have lost it completely. When Sehwag in front of Shahrukh Khan in India was telling "Beta beta hota hae baap baap hota hae " and referring Sachin as BAAP of Shoaib Akhter then nobody cried the way indians are crying now. If wat Sehwag & Shahrukh did was not belittle or insult/disrespect to the fastest bowler on the planet then I don't know how you define it.
Indians have proved once again that they are not tolerant. I don't know why to criticize Pakistanis.
We have tolerated all your crappy movies which insult Pakistan/Muslims as being most of the time terrorists and drug dealers. Reflection will help all of us specially Hindustanis.
@rehmat: I have seen that your comments are logical and compassionate keep it up bro may your tribe grow but be careful about your spelling that could be dangerous .
I would not be surpised, if these stunts of Shoaib will earn him money and entry into Big Boss 5.
Hey guys up there supporting Shoib Akhthar... do you remember a guy called Ross Taylor and do you recall how Akhthar looked like in his last over before retirement? Now guys decide who is scared of whom! Tendulkar and Sehwag swatted him out of the ground in the South Africa World cup. The guy is looking for some cheap publicity. don't give it to him. Let him atleast earn something in a honest way.
"The former Pakistani player said on the occasions he had played against India, not once did Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid help their team win the match single handedly"
I think Akthar suffers from memory loss! Sachin scored a 98(!) against the likes of Akram, Waqar and Akthar himself in a World Cup match. That was pure Sachin brilliance. So, that theory is demolished.
Dravid was instrumental in India winning the Test Series in Pakistan in 2004, in Rawalpindi, especially, when he scored 270(!), a mammoth score. In that match too, Akthar was playing, along with Saqlain Mustaq, the greatest off-spinner Pakistan has produced.
So, in view of all this, how can the above statement be true? If you ignore all the good plays and say negative things, how can that be fair?
Sachin Tendulkar is not a great crickter, he faced sub standard and rubbish bowlers from all countries to score 99 tons.
@Sujesh Kumar: mind you that was a politically arranged and forced series and Pakistani bowlers were forced to bowl in a slack manner so that India could be gifted series in exchange of goodwill and Confidence building measures, samjhota express and trade etc.........
Retired cricketers also need money , he is just trying to sell his book COOL IT. He was one of the great fast bowlers he had his purple patches and his off days . His videos are there on youtube watch him take wickets or get smacked take your pick ENJOY & RELAX .
@rehmat: @Beta: beta our domestic teams can beat an indian eleven so be ware of saying that and as far as isolation is cncrnd that is bcs of yr jlsy to our cricktrs you just wnt to ply crkt on yr mny not on yr talnt got it beta
@ Rehmat - you are correct. We Pakistanis have awful double standards.
While I am no pro-Indian and think the country has a long way to go in terms of getting past the caste divide, I do think it is interesting to note that many of our Pakistani celebrities are well received in India and treated well. The fact he chose to launch is book in Delhi and not in Pakistan says a lot about how mobile, well-off Pakistanis feel about the future of their homeland.
We all miss our home and the food, the warmth of people, our family, but we do not miss the violence, the intolerance, the hatred of others (religious, ethnic, etc.), and the myopia of the leadership (elected, GHQ, ISI, etc.).
@rehmat: You are perfectly right. It is the hate and religious bigotry that shows in his statements. It is cricket and freedom of expression and religious overtones must be avoided. The numbers do not lie. S. Akhter is not the best bowler in Pakistan history let alone in the world. His attack on the highest run and century scorers only shows his shallowness. He is a master of controversy but this time it is going to backfire on him. Even the Pakistan cricket board is using his book in the court that he is a loose canon.
Mark my words his furture is in politics
@rehmat
You are good at heart.
Sorry meant o write Allah. The typo was inadvertent.
Why is he bringing up the term Bhagwan. If a non-Muslim were o say someting about the Prophet or alah, how would we feel? Regardless of how he feels about Tendulkar - he has no business bringing religion into the picture through such cheap remarks.
Shoaib is right Sachin has never won matces single handly.. He's absolutely right about Viv richards, Lara and ponting.. They've won matches for their countries single handly.. Sachin always lacked that ability. he shouldn't be apologizing for speaking the truth..
we love you Shoaib!....
Just saw his video on YouTube. Really admire for speaking the truth. Also saw video of sehwag as mentioned above. There should be freedom of speech.
I am a Tendulkar fan but this is his book.. his view... Whether it is Shoaib Akhtar or Salman Rushdie - everyone has the right to express their view in their book. If someone does not agree... he / she has a choice... dont buy the book!!!
Alam.
Good joke.
@Sujesh Kumar: a one time highest score does not imply consistency....hence, may have been easily forgotten by Akhtar :)
stand by ur words... :p
but it was apparently not out in Karachi test where Sachin walked out after an appeal of cought behind and all that happened after he was hit on head by Shaoib(this was the same match which brought M.Asif to fame when he ran through Indian batting lineup with his swingers) and every one knows that sachin does not like to go out even after being plumb.
@Beta: Having domestic cricket only we can take hell out of Dhoni 11
Shoib Akhthar did not progress in his career because of his short cut tactics to get cheap publicity. Instead of using the talent and bringing some pride to the country he was busy with partying, doping and ball tampering. Tendulkar on the other hand has set an example for many generations to follow. The first over of that world cup match in South Africal is sufficient to show who is afraid of whom... shoib was taken off the attack with out delay in that match.
Now regarding the book... this is another embarassment for us. Why does he have to go to India and sell his book? Cheap publicity with cheap contents and greed for money
BCCI, please stop being cry babies, Akhtar just share his honest thoughts.
I guess we should all appreciate Shoaib for being honest, candid and straight forward in his book. He had the guts to launch his book in India when he wrote against their Bhagwan. I stand behind him and appreciate him in his deeds. I think all he has written in his book is true about Wasim Akram, Waqar younis and Imran Khan. Cricket is no different than our politics, the powerful rules his way and the weak are at loss.
What he will apologise for He did not know what he was saying at very first place. Tandulkar is one of the greatest cricketers and he is going to stay there forever Shoaib likes it or not.All those enjoyed his rantings, prepared for further more isolation. Your cricket will now be restricted to domestic level, that too at the mercy of TTP !
Perfect reply Shoaib
It seems Shoaib Akhtar has at least forgotten Rahul Dravid's monumental innings of 270 in Rawilpindi in 2004. Shoaib was a member of Pakistan Team that time & that innings in turn won the match & series for India. Till date it remains Dravid's highest Test score.
apologize??? wat crap?
when sehwag said "Beta beta hota baap baat hota hae" did anyone asked for apologies? He said it on national media infront of losers like shahrukh!!!
Awesome reply dude :D
agree with u , shoaib. some people may not like ur comments about other players but no one has a right 2 stop u say what u really feel about something.
ahaaha....great! well said akhtar!!!!!
spare the man, he spoke against everybody, including himself !