Islamabad: Trouble-prone speedster Shoaib Akhtar has landed in a spot once again for his "erratic" behaviour and meeting Bollywood stars in South Africa in defiance of team orders. Ahead of the all-important World Cup, Pakistan's tough talking out-going cricket team manager Khwaja Nasir pulled up the "Rawalpindi Express" for his wild ways and asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to "discipline" the fast bowler. Nasir told the local media that he had asked the PCB to discipline the fast bowler as he had defied team orders and went to meet Bollywood stars in Durban during the South Africa tour. Nasir, who officiated as manager during the Zimbabwe and South African tours but has been replaced by former Pakistan diplomat Sharyar Khan for the upcoming World Cup, said he met PCB chief Lt Gen Tauqir Zia in Lahore on Friday and spoke to him about Shoaib but stopped short of lodging a formal complaint. "I have let the PCB know about my experiences in Zimbabwe and South Africa. I've also outlined Shoaib's case to them. But I have filed no official complaint," he was quoted as saying by the local daily "The News" on Sunday. Nasir said Shoaib rubbed many of his teammates on the wrong side during the tour. The fast bowler was finally released during the One-day series due to a sore knee and was told to return home and seek treatment. However, Shoaib took over a week in reaching home. He made a detour to Durban to meet Indian film stars. The South African media was all awash with his photographs, posing alongside Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachan. Nasir said the entire Pakistan team had been invited to the premier of an Indian film in Durban but they decided to stay away because of the relations between the two countries. "But when Shoaib's photographs appeared in the press I was surprised. I immediately informed the PCB chairman about this and the PCB asked him to return home immediately." Shoaib later explained that he stayed back in South Africa for a while as he had to undergo medical tests in Johannesburg for his knee problem. He said he had to wait for the reports as they were delayed due to Christmas holidays. Nasir, meanwhile, refuted reports about differences between captain Waqar Younis and the players. "I think the seniors did not play well in South Africa, particularly Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana." Nasir said he had no problems with the decision of the PCB to replace him for the World Cup and wished Shaharyar Khan good luck in his new assignment. He said the fact that Pakistan had played in South Africa just ahead of the World Cup would help it.
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Tags: cricket, shoaib akhtar, bollywood stars, south africa, khwaja nasir, rawalpindi express, pakistan cricket board (pcb), sharyar khan, tauqir zia, amitabh bachan, waqar younis, inzamam-ul-haq, yousuf yo.
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