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| February 01, 2007 | Thursday | Muharram 12, 1428 |
Woolmer thought I feigned injury, says Shoaib
LAHORE, Jan 31: Controversial Pakistani paceman Shoaib Akhtar on Wednesday said coach Bob Woolmer believed he had feigned injury during his short stint in South Africa. “Woolmer thought I feigned injury which led to our altercation,” Shoaib told reporters about an incident on the second day of the Port Elizabeth Test earlier this month.
The 31-year-old paceman had to return home after suffering a hamstring injury. He had taken 4-36 on the first day of the second Test, which Pakistan won by five wickets to level the series at 1-1.
South Africa, however, clinched the three-match series by winning the third Test at Cape Town by five wickets.
Shoaib, who also received a doping ban last year, was not picked for the 17-man squad initially on fitness grounds.
But he was later sent as a replacement after another paceman, Umar Gul, twisted his ankle and was ruled out of the Test series.
Ironically, Shoaib’s successful return for his first Test in 12 months lasted just one day.
He could not bowl in the second innings due to the injury. To add to Shoaib’s woes television footage showed him pushing coach Woolmer and exchanging heated words.
He was later fined $2,500 after a disciplinary hearing by the team manager Talat Ali.
Shoaib said he later apologised to Woolmer.
“I apologised to Woolmer and he also said few soft words with me and the matter was closed,” he said.
“Whenever someone doubts my commitment my soul gets hurt, it's worse than any physical injury,” Shoaib added.
This was not the first time Shoaib has been accused of feigning injury.
He had to undergo medical tests after he suffered a hamstring injury during Pakistan's third Test defeat to arch rivals India three years ago.
The Pakistan team's management, including captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and the then coach Javed Miandad, alleged Shoaib had feigned the injury.
It prompted the PCB to launch a medical inquiry into the fast bowler who was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
Shoaib said he offered to bowl by taking pain killing injections after his recent ailment.
“I was ready to play by having injections but doctors advised against it as they feared it would have ended my chances of playing in the World Cup,” he said.
“I am 80 percent fit and am working hard to be fit for the World Cup.”—AFP
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