Shoaib is a problem: Wasim Akram

Mumbai, Sept 24 (IBNS) Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram on Saturday slammed Pakistan's former maverick fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for blaming him for ruining his career.

"Whatever the Pakistan Cricket Board says, I am with them. He was a problem when he was in the team and he is a problem when he is out of the team," Akram told reporters here, reacting to Shoaib's autobiography ´Controversially Yours´.

"He knows, I know and the world knows that he was himself responsible for destroying his career. There is a lot to talk but I don´t want to humiliate him. There is an unwritten code among players that some facts should not be revealed before the media," Akram said.

"After these 'revelations', you guys (media) will ensure that his book is a bestseller," he said.

Commenting on Shoaib's take on Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, Akram said: "I remember one of Sachin´s knocks in the Sialkot Test. It was the fourth Test and the wicket had lot of grass, I was 22 and Waqar was 19 and we were very fast."

"Waqar hit him on his chin and he came back after taking treatment and scored a 50. If a 16-year-old can´t be scared, I don´t think any batsman can be scared. It hardly matters what Shoaib says," Akram said.

In his book Shoaib said, "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."

"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," Shoaib said.

In his autobiography, Akhtar has also alleged that he was cheated by Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan and former IPL Chairman Lalit Modi.

"Shahrukh 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 Shahrukh."

Akhtar, who retired from cricket following the 2011 World Cup, has also shockingly revealed that he tampered with the ball claiming, "everyone tampers with the ball. I did so too. Tampering should be legalised."

Akhtar also said that severe class discrimination was marring Pakistani cricket. In the book he also talks about the arrogance of the Pakistan Cricket Board ( PCB), his humiliation and his failures - including ball-tampering and even attacking teammates with a bat.

Alongside, he takes on Pakistani and international players, coaches, selectors and the media.

Taking a dig at Shoaib Malik, Akhtar said that the Pakistani all-rounder was PCB´s stooge.

"Shoaib Malik doesn´t deserve to be captain and was made captain because he was a stooge of the PCB Chief Naseem Ashraf," states Akhtar.

Shoaib also claimed that legendary Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram attempted to finish him career.

"Wasim Akram threatened to walk out with half the team if I was included in the team. General Tauqir Zia backed Shoaib against Wasim."