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29 March 2024

Mumbai cricket chief wants Akhtar apology

Akhtar has struck a raw nerve by criticising Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar in his autobiography. (FILE)

Published
By Staff

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar could become persona non grata in India unless he makes a public apology for his controversial comments on Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in his new autobiography.

Union minister and Mumbai Cricket Association president Vilasrao Deshmukh joined the chorus of critics having been quoted on Monday as saying Akhtar should apologise to Tendulkar for his sensational claims against the master blaster. 

“His (Shoaib’s) remarks should be condemned. Sachin is a world class player and has made several records. He should apologise to Sachin,” Deshmukh told reporters on the sidelines of a function ‘Times of India’ reported.

In his just-released book ‘Controversially Yours’, Akhtar has claimed batting maestro Tendulkar was afraid of facing his deliveries and he along with Rahul Dravid lacked the “art of finishing the game”.

Deshmukh said that Shoaib’s claim could also have a commercial angle from the point of view of selling his book echoing the views of former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram who said Akhtar lacked credibility to comment on a batsman of Tendulkar’s stature.

The Mumbai Cricket chief’s comments comes close on the heels of India’s apex cricket body, BCCI, demanding an apology from Akhtar for his ‘offensive’ comments.

New IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla was quoted by ‘Time Now’ as saying, “Has he forgotten how Tendulkar treated him during the Centurion World Cup match in 2003? He was whacked all over the park. He should apologise to both Tendulkar and Dravid for saying what he said in the book.”

One of the few Pakistanis to feature in the IPL having represented Kolkata Knight Riders before retiring from the sport after the World Cup, Akhtar’s book may never see the light of day in India.

‘Times of India’ reported that close on the heels of his book launch function being cancelled in Mumbai, another function which was to be attended by the Pakistani speedster on Tuesday in Bangalore for the promotion of his controversial biography has also been called off (https://bit.ly/oQWvJc).

The launch of the book was to be hosted by Landmark and HarperCollins Publishers India in the evening but has now been called off, a communication from the organisers said on Monday without giving any reason.

Two of Akhtar’s promotional events in Mumbai had been cancelled though no official reasons were given.