Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has backed theclaims made by his ex-teammate Shahid Afridi in his latest autobiography titled’Game Changer’.
Afridi, in his autobiography, has claimed that he receivedharsh treatment from his seniors during his playing days. Citing one example,he said former Pakistan coach Javed Miandad did not let him participate in thebatting practice session before the Chennai Test against India in 1999.
Backing Afridi’s claims, Akhtar said he too received harshtreatment from senior cricketers during his playing days.
“I think Shahid Afridi has written less in his bookabout the harsh treatment he received from senior players during his playingdays. I witnessed some of it with my own eyes and totally agree with him,”The Express Tribune quoted Akhtar as saying while speaking during a show on alocal sports channel.
Afridi, in his book, has written that Miandad even forcedhim to praise him during the presentation ceremony after which the former T20captain lost all respect for Miandad.
Akhtar, while backing Afridi’s claims, said that ten seniorplayers had later asked the two of them for forgiveness for their behaviourduring the playing days.
“Later down the years, ten of these senior playersasked us for forgiveness, before leaving for Umrah, for the way they treatedus,” Akhtar said.
While talking about his past experiences, Akhtar said fourplayers were about to beat him with a bat.
“Once during a tour of Australia, four playersapproached with the intention of hitting me with a bat,” said the43-year-old.
Earlier, out of favour Imran Farhat had lashed out atAfridi, saying the former all-rounder was a “selfish player” whoruined many careers for his own good.
In a series of tweets, Farhat said he was ashamed to knowthat Afridi, who lied for 20 years about his age, is naming and blaming some ofthe legendary cricketers of Pakistan.