Worcestershire chairman blasts Akhtar

John Elliot, Worcestershire chairman, has slammed the contribution of Shoaib Akhtar during the last season. Elliot claimed that the fast bowler's lack of team-ethic led to considerable unrest in the dressing room.

"Players like that are no good to our club. In fact, Shoaib has been no good for any club he's been at," Elliot was quoted as saying by Sporting Life. "It's all about team spirit and getting the dressing room right and when you've got a bloke like Shoaib in there, it can cause mayhem."

Akhtar had said that he signed with Worcestershire because of Tom Moody, who was then director of cricket at New Road. However, Moody then left Worcestershire to take up the position of Sri Lanka coach, and Elliot believes Akhtar did not live up to his credentials under Steve Rhodes, the current coach. "Steve Rhodes inherited a thankless task when he took over having to deal with someone like Shoaib Akhtar.

"You can only wonder whether Tom Moody might have got the best out of him as he was the one that signed Shoaib. But, really, I don't think anyone could have handled him. He's a superstar and just does what he wants."

Akhtar's contribution in the first two matches of the World XI's one-day series against Australia was lacklustre and drew considerable criticism from various quarters. And following his reported rift with Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, Akhtar's every statement and action during the upcoming series against England is sure to be scrutinized.