By IANS,
New Delhi : Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has taken a dig at veteran Indian batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, saying the two are not match winners.
In his autobiography ‘Controversially Yours’, Akhtar goes onto say that he intimidated master blaster Tendulkar with his delivery during the Faisalabad Test.
“I bowled (Sachin) a particularly fast ball which he, to my amazement didn’t even touch. He walked away! That was the first time I saw him walk away from me that, too, on the slow track at Faisalabad,” Akhtar wrote.
“I think players like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid weren’t exactly match winners to start with, nor did they know the art of finishing the game.”
Akhtar has also alleged that he was cheated by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi.
“Shah Rukh and I talked about my not being happy with the money settled on me. Shahrukh and Modi got me to agree. I should have never listened to Modi and Shah Rukh,” he said.
Akhtar, who retired after the 2011 World Cup, also admitted to ball tampering and feels it should be legalised.
“Everyone tampers with the ball. I did so too. Tampering should be legalised.”
Akhtar also claimed that his career was hampered by legendary Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram.
“Wasim Akram threatened to walk out with half the team if I was included in the team. General Tauqir Zia (the then PCB chief) backed Shoaib against Wasim,” he wrote.