Shoaib apologises for his conduct
Being recalled from the Twenty20 WC, the Pak pacer apologises for hitting teammate Asif with a bat following a verbal spat.
After his unceremonious ouster from the Twenty20 World Cup, temperamental Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar on Friday apologised for hitting fellow pacer Mohammad Asif with a bat following a verbal spat.
"I am really sorry. I am feeling very bad at the moment. Sometimes you do things in a fit of anger. Once I am back I will discuss the matter with my family and friends and hold a press conference. I will apologise to everyone," Shoaib told a private TV channel.
Shoaib hit Asif on his thigh after the two had a heated exchange during a training session in South Africa following which Pakistan Cricket Board immediately called him back as a disciplinary measure.
Although Shoaib admitted that he crossed the line much too often, he also insisted that he was unfairly targeted by the media.
"Everything happened all of a sudden. I made a mistake but then who does not. I am sorry for what happened but I think I can put the whole thing behind and come back stronger," Shoaib said.
"I admit that I make mistakes but the media glare on me is such that everything gets blown out of proportion. The media does not go after everybody, it only targets me. But what has happened has happened and I will try bouncing back as soon as possible," he said.
Pakistan's highest Test run-getter, said the problem aggravated because for the last few years the chief-patron (President) had been appointing non-technical people with the Board.
"These people have been more interested in pampering the top players, making foreign tours on one pretext or the other or getting close to the players. A former player will never tolerate what has been going on in this Board and team," Miandad said.
He called on President Pervez Musharraf to eliminate top hierarchy in the Board and bring in technical people on important positions.
He also demanded a strict action against Shoaib to set an example for the future for other players.
Former players, Waqar Younis and Aamir Sohail also felt that Shoaib should be shown no sympathy.
"He deserves no leniency at all. In the past he has got away several times flouting the rules," Waqar said.
Sohail said, "This is too much, you don't expect a professional cricketer to behave like this. This is a national team after all," he said.
He supported the Board's decision to call back Shoaib from South Africa and said more action should be taken against him.