Sachin no good in Shoaib’s book

Shoaib Akhtar epitomises three things that have been integral to Pakistan cricket — an assembly line of express quicks, the penchant of players for controversies and an individualistic approach that can work against the team’s cause. HT reports. Shoaib’s tale: Beating odds to find stardom | Not the man you know | Controversially Yours

Shoaib Akhtar epitomises three things that have been integral to Pakistan cricket — an assembly line of express quicks, the penchant of players for controversies and an individualistic approach that can work against the team’s cause.

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The man dubbed the “Rawalpindi Express” captivated the cricket world as he chased the title of the fastest bowler ever with Australia’s Brett Lee for a good part of the last decade, until he wrapped up his international career.

Just like his career that was a roller-coaster affair with chucking, ball-tampering, injuries and doping all thrown in, his autobiography, Controversially Yours, is a no-holds-barred affair that spares few he came across.

He takes aim at Pakistan’s rivals India, describing Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid as not capable of finishing matches! The book also alleges that ball-tampering is not restricted to Pakistani bowlers, admits he and his pace team mates were guilty of that practice.

Shoaib says Tendulkar was scared of facing him, in the drawn Faisalabad Test in 2006 when he had him caught behind cheaply, although he played down many such statements at the book launch on Friday.

Shoaib’s tale: Beating odds to find stardom | Not the man you know | Tendulkar was scared of me: Shoaib