Shoaib Akhtar denies allegations

An NDTV exclusive suggests that there could be more to Pakistan bowler Shoaib Akhtar's ban than just his dope test.A retired Indian Army officer attached to the Pakistani team during the Champions Trophy has told NDTV that Shoaib Akhtar had slapped coach Bob Woolmer on the team bus and also misbehaved with Indian coach Greg Chappel's wife.

Hours after the incident, the Pakistan team announced that Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif were being sent back home after a failed dope test. Speculation is now doing the rounds that there could be more than the doping scandal that led to Shoaib Akhtar's infamous exit from the Pakistan cricket team.However, in an exclusive with NDTV, the Pakistani fast bowler has completely denied the allegations.

"I have come to India lots of times before and nothing like this has happened. I am shocked, how can you make such allegations without any proof?," he said. "Why would I slap anyone, I have never fought with anyone. There is no reason for me to fight with Bob Woolmer. We might have had an argument, but I did not raise my hand on him.

"Neither have I ever raised my hand on a teammate. I have very good relations with Bob, as far as going to a nightclub is concerned and eating out is concerned, if everyone else can do it, why can't Shoaib Akhtar do it," Shoaib Akhtar said.

'Shoaib Akhtar slapped Bob Woolmer'

Colonel Anil Kaul, who was with the Pakistani team, has said it could very well have been Shoaib Akhtar's off-field antics in Jaipur that led to his exit."These boys were listening to Hindi songs when Bob Woolmer removed the iPod and put on an English song. Shoaib Akhtar got up and again changed the music, put on a Hindi song.

"Bob Woolmer kept quiet and then started making fun of the song. This was too much for Shoaib Akhtar. He suddenly got up and gave Bob Woolmer a tight slap. Everyone was stunned and quickly intervened," said Kaul.

Another brawl

That wasn't all and that same night after the team dinner, Shoaib Akhtar got into a brawl at a disco after forcibly trying to dance with a girl."The chief liaison officer went and got them out of the hotel where they were trapped. But then Shoaib Akhtar went to the floor where the Indian team was staying and started banging on the doors. He accidentally banged on the door of Indian coach Greg Chappell and his wife came out, dressed in her nightclothes.

"Shoaib Akhtar made some comments about her. The next morning, I was having breakfast with the Pakistani team manager when Bob Woolmer stormed in. He said even Greg Chappell has complained about Shoaib Akhtar and strict action must be taken," Kaul further said. While Shoaib Akhtar has been banned for two years by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Bob Woolmer continues as the Pakistan coach.

Disciplinary issues

Though Bob Woolmer denied these incidents, he did accept that there were disciplinary issues with Shoaib Akhtar."The issue is being blown out of proportion and Shoaib Akhtar and I remain friends," said Bob Woolmer.Shoaib Akhtar now faces the prospect of never playing for Pakistan and like on many previous occasions, it is his misdemeanors off the field that have landed him in trouble.

This time the bad boy of Pakistani cricket might just have kissed his international career goodbye. Perhaps the coach and the Pakistan Cricket Board might have been inclined to show some leniency towards the Rawalpindi Express. But his insistence on derailing his own career with several disciplinary issues means that he lacks the support of his team, his coach and even the PCB.

Source NDTV