NEW DELHI, Nov 15: Former Pakistan captain and fast bowling icon Wasim Akram has taken strong objection to Australian opener Matthew Hayden terming India as a third world country.

Wasim felt Hayden’s comments were a result of Aussies’ old habit of bad-mouthing their opponents whenever they lose.

“The thing about the Aussies is that they are sore losers. They get personal when they get beaten. It is all a matter of sour grapes and after going home, they’ve started calling India a third-world country,” Wasim, who played 104 Tests and 356 One-day Internationals for Pakistan, said.

Hayden complained it was host batsmen’s reluctance to face problems with people around the sight screen that led to Aussies falling behind over rate.The comments came at a time when several top Australian cricketers, including Hayden, turned to India to make a quick buck from cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL).

“You don’t blame sight screens for poor over-rates. Even Allan Border was critical of Australian tactics on the pitch,” Wasim stated.

Wasim’s stinging reaction came a day after the BCCI reacted strongly to Hayden’s remark, saying such a comment about India was totally uncalled for from the Australian opener.

Back home after the 2-0 Test series defeat in India, Hayden spoke about, what he perceived, poor ground conditions and inordinate delays during the matches “that happen in third world countries”.—Agencies