'Afridi should have said more': Shoaib Akhtar weighs in on Game Changer's controversial claims
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Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar on Thursday weighed in on the controversy surrounding Shahid Afridi's autobiography Game Changer, not only endorsing the former all-rounder's claims regarding senior players' "harsh behaviour" but adding that the "reality was much more than that".
"Whatever @SAfridiOfficial has written about harsh behaviour from seniors, reality was much more than that," Akhtar said in a tweet. "He should have said more."
"Actually he should have said it 20 years ago," the former fast-bowler added. "If he did at the right time, he wouldn't have had to write a book today."
Hours later, Afridi thanked the former fast-bowler in a tweet, and said that he had "followed [Akhtar's] footsteps and wrote a book". Akhtar had released his autobiography Controversially Yours in 2011.
Boom Boom, in his tweet, insisted that he "never wanted to hurt any former player" and was "only trying to state facts".
The former all-rounder, in his recently released autobiography, has alleged that batting legend Javed Miandad did not like him.
"The tussle had started even before the series kicked off. Miandad had developed a strong opinion against me… in fact, the day before I went to bat, Miandad didn’t even give me any net practice,” the ex-Pakistan captain nicknamed Boom Boom wrote.
He also criticised bowling icon Waqar Younis, calling him a "mediocre captain" and "a terrible coach".
“Unfortunately, he hadn’t let go of the past,” stated Afridi. “Waqar and I had a history, dating all the way back to his tiff with Wasim [Akram] over the captaincy crown. He was a mediocre captain but a terrible coach, always micromanaging and getting in the way, trying to tell the captain — me — what to do […] It was a natural clash and it was bound to happen.”
The former all-rounder also claimed that he had warned the authorities of the 2010 spot-fixing scandal, which eventually landed then-captain Salman Butt, fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir in jail.
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On DawnNews
May 09, 2019 09:07pm
Cricket is a game and no any game changer for the nation. What we are having today in politics, thanks all to our over the cloud cricket mania, is a big laughing stock of the world at large.
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May 09, 2019 09:16pm
It is sad that such tactics are being used to make a book be successful. May it be cricket or hockey politics personal favorites lack of judgement has always been a part of game. This doesn't mean that players make these things public, after all said and done Afridi enjoyed his career and should keep memories to cherish about.
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May 09, 2019 09:27pm
Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar has to do this to be in the news as they are not smart enough like some others who has found their carrier in commentary or coaching after they were done playing cricket.
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May 09, 2019 09:30pm
Why would any sensible coach give net practice to Afridi when he hits a six and get out next full toss ball. Most notably he did it in 2007 finals, 2011 WC semis, 2015 WC group match against India to name a few important matches
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May 09, 2019 09:34pm
Pakistan players combined gave produced more controversies than trophies.
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May 09, 2019 09:34pm
@M. Saeed,
Brother let's not overreact. Every cricketing nation has had to deal with controversial rifts within teams - KP in England, Warner in Australia, for example - and some teams like Sri Lanka and the West Indies have almost had to cancel tours because of internal politics. These things happen.
As a nation, we're always too quick to believe we're the laughing stock of the world, when in reality, we're no different to anyone else.
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May 09, 2019 09:36pm
No doubt Shoaib, Afridi were great players but none of them brought world cup title to Pakistan. So for me whatever they are but they are below standard of 92 worldcup team. Period!
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May 09, 2019 09:51pm
Waqar Inzi Saleem Malik Wasim Mushtaq moin khan Ahmed all corrupt players that use to take back handers from the gambling circuit. The world cup final against australia was the biggest fix ever. Had it not Pakistan would have at least 2 wc cups.
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May 09, 2019 09:53pm
@Karachites, Though you won the world cup in 1992 Pakistans best team was in 1999. Perhaps the wordls best ever till date. Such fine players and best balance.
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May 09, 2019 09:56pm
We all know their reputation ofcourse, and they gave more ammunition to the cricket world to make fun of Pakistan Cricket
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May 09, 2019 09:58pm
Hope afridi also talked about eating ball and damaging pitch.
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May 09, 2019 10:14pm
Nice going guys....Keep it up.
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May 09, 2019 10:28pm
@Karachites, cricket is not only about bringing WC!
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May 09, 2019 11:11pm
Corruption mafia is still sitting in PCB backroom and needs to be rooted out
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May 09, 2019 11:35pm
Timing of the book release is selfish and right before the World Cup. Afridi, Pakistan allowed you to play for at least 5 years more than any other country. Be thankful and appreciative and maintain humility. Shoaib just knows how to talk with no action. Afridi, there is a huge difference in class between you and Sir Javed Maindad period.
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May 09, 2019 11:49pm
We lost so many games because of Afridi that it is a miracle that he played so long but then we all very well know how miracles happen in Pakistan. Afridi is trying to be in news by way of cheap publicity, a tactic employed by few well known actors.
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May 09, 2019 11:55pm
@Karachites: you're mistaken, Shahid Afridi actually won the T20 WC for Pakistan in 2009, where he performed with both Ball and Bat.
To be honest, we need to realise that in our Cricket team has been split in to groups long time ago, and when we appointed former players as coach, then they carried that same group system in the team.
I bet that not many have read the actual book, and that's why it's very difficult to understand why Afridi has said these things. I suggest you read the entire book, to understand fully what he's trying to say.
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May 10, 2019 12:03am
BCCI is behind all these. Rather IPL I should say.
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May 10, 2019 12:38am
Utter nonsense,both were as good as the days play, I wish they can learn some decency from Tendulkar.
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May 10, 2019 12:46am
Afridi says he was only stating the 'facts', not upsetting the players of the past. These are merely his personal opinions, not necessarily the facts. If he thought that Gambhir was an ordinary player, it was his opinion, fact would be otherwise. Similarly, many people would have the opinion that Afridi was an over-hyped mediocrity. That may not go well with his facts.
People can have belief in their opinions, and that belief may not necessarily be the fact.
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May 10, 2019 12:52am
Birds of the same feather flock together
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May 10, 2019 12:57am
They are right. We Pakistanis stand with Afridi and Shoaib. lets address the problems.
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May 10, 2019 01:11am
No surprise Akhtar siding with Afridi. They are both troublemakers.
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May 10, 2019 01:38am
Totally insignificant!!
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May 10, 2019 02:04am
@Logic, I thought you are talking some logic when I read Logic.
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May 10, 2019 03:45am
Can you even read English? One has-been supporting another. Both are rude and crude.
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May 10, 2019 03:47am
@Viq saad, the book is a flop!
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May 10, 2019 03:48am
@M. Saeed, the title of the book is an attempt to ride on the glory of a few games he won, but, on balance he isn't a game changer.
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May 10, 2019 03:50am
@RIZ, just ignore them, as noise
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May 10, 2019 04:05am
No comparison between Javaid Miandad and Afridi. Just look the stats and know who won and lost most matches for Pakistan
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May 10, 2019 04:46am
@marcus, you forgot the Master ....Wasim Akram.......
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May 10, 2019 04:47am
@Logic, Why we always blame others for our shortcomings.....no wonder why, as a nation, we never grew.....
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May 10, 2019 06:03am
Both fellows scratching one anothers back.
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May 10, 2019 06:13am
I'm not sure this is even ethical. People for some money sell their soul. I was never expecting this from the Boom Boom a great player. Everything in a team stay in team. This kind of things shouldn't be public.
I guess people in a team knew his preference and maybe that's why some of the greatest players didn't like him.
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May 10, 2019 06:29am
Hello Afridi Javed MIandad and Imran Khan served Pakistan with distinction include both W's but you don't fall into same category.Quite honestly you were below mediocre and should never have played for Pakistan.How many games Pakistan lost due to your poor display.Come on grow up,your game is over.Nobody is interested in your below mediocre book.
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May 10, 2019 06:48am
Shahid Afridi won 10 matches for Pakistan and lost 40. Cause of him and a few others, new talent couldn't be tested.
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May 10, 2019 07:55am
Sadly he didn't learn anything while representing a country on national level. More of a branded player rather than a genuine cricketer he earned much fame through advertisements and he is doing the same by staying in media still.
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May 10, 2019 10:21am
Afridi and shoiab.... Both were and are responsible for politics in Pakistan cricket... Mere speed by shoiab was never been the wining factor nor average batting score of afridi, ever helped Pakistan team to win... They were and are trying to be stars of showbiz not professional cricketers loyal to the game and Country...
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May 10, 2019 03:05pm
Too little, too late.
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May 10, 2019 04:46pm
@Nasir, don't understand your point. What does it got to do with not letting Afridi bat during the practice session?
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May 10, 2019 05:20pm
Though I am an Indian, I always admired good Pakistani cricket players. It is sad to see Afridi go through so much pain while playing for his country as I sincerely believe he played the game with lot of passion
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May 10, 2019 09:28pm
@Logic, Big 3 I believe...Conspiracy theories...
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May 11, 2019 01:11am
Shoaib himself had a controversial carriers and he had issues with coaches and peers .. he even had issues with bob wolmer who is praised by all .. he even hit his junior m.asif with a bat .. and his infights and ill discipline was well known .. shoib's book itself was controversial and he had to give justifications and excuses for his claims in the book ..
So please stop this stuff .. you didn't respected ur seniors when u played the game and now guys are using books to make cheap publicity and money ..
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