Shoaib Akhtar calls Virender Sehwag ‘immature’

During an interview with comedian Vikram Sathaye last week, former India opener Virender Sehwag had said that former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar was praising Indian players due to commercial and business interests. Akhtar hit back at the former Indian opener, terming his comments as immature.

“Shoaib Akhtar became a really good friend because he wanted to establish business in India. That’s why he had to talk good about India so that he could get paid by doing commentary. Whenever you see Akhtar today, you’ll notice him praising India so much, nobody would even believe him praising India so much in his life,” Viru was quoted as saying by Deccan Chronicle.

“During my time when he used to bowl to me, there was no love lost. Money can do everything. Nowadays, Pakistani people such as Mohammad Yousuf, Saqlain Mushtaq or Rana, who work in Pakistan TV channels, all want to come to India because they know India is a big market and obviously if you get Rs 1 lakh over here, then its Rs 2 lakh in Pakistan,” he said.

“Very immature statement from great player like Sehwag. That we praise Indian player for the money,” Akhtar tweeted. However, the Rawalpindi Express was quick to delete his tweet.

Shoaib Akhtar was also in the news recently after he stated that Mohammed Amir and Virat Kohli’s face-offs will also go down the cricket history as some of the epic duels. It reminded him of his own battles against Sachin Tendulkar. Akhtar also said that he was proud that Amir’s redemption looks like complete and it augurs well for Pakistan cricket.