Shoaib accused of 'tarnishing Pakistan's pride'

A civil court in Lahore has summoned Shoaib Akhtar to respond to a private petition alleging that statements he made about fellow cricketers tarnished Pakistani pride.

Akhtar's comments were made last month in an interview with the London-based Guardian newspaper. "Imagine if I was playing for Australia with Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie softening them up, then I come on, I'd have got more wickets than anyone ever," he said. "When I play for Pakistan, with Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis they are in decline. They were great but they're not match-winning bowlers any more. So I have to make it all happen on my own."

Akhtar is unlikely to appear at the first hearing as he is currently playing in England for Durham. He will also miss Pakistan's home series against Bangladesh next month before returning home in late September.