Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar says he considered sueing Pakistan's cricket management for publicly announcing the very personal skin ailment which forced him to miss last month's Twenty20 World Cup.
The Pakistan Cricket Board made a surprisingly frank pre-tournament announcement on the nature of Akhtar's condition when it removed him from the T20 squad.
"I kept quiet because I have a central contract and didn't want to offend the Pakistan Cricket Board, but I could have sued the Pakistan team management," Akhtar said in a television program aired on Express News late Wednesday night.
"I didn't want Pakistan team to suffer because my news is published all over the world."
Akhtar is in category A of the PCB's centrally contracted players, who are barred from openly criticizing the cricket board's decisions.
Without Akhtar, Pakistan went on to win the T20 World Cup.
The injury-prone fast bowler last played a test match against India in 2007 before he was sidelined for 14 months due to fitness and disciplinary problems.
He has made two unimpressive comebacks to international cricket this year, in one-day series against Sri Lanka and Australia, but the enigmatic paceman known as the 'Rawalpindi Express' believes he can get back to his best.
"There's still three-four good years left in me," Akhtar said.
"I am the fastest bowler in history of cricket and it's not possible for everyone to bowl at 150 (kph)."
Pakistan's former coach, the late Bob Woolmer, advised Akhtar to shorten his long run-up to prolong his cricketing career, but Akhtar said he can not.
"It doesn't suit me," he said.
"My run-up is my speed, previously (in cricket) nobody has bowled as fast as I have bowled."
Akhtar said fast bowlers should get the support of their captains as they are team's match-winners.
"One of my favorite captains is (India's Mahendra Singh) Dhoni. The captain should be cool and humble especially with fast bowlers because you win matches due to them."
Akhtar believed he could have been "considered" for the ongoing three-test series against Sri Lanka as he has regained full fitness.
"I am perfectly fine now and I can play five day matches, why not," he said.
"But it depends which tour suits me. Had they (selectors) considered me for the Sri Lanka series only then I could have told you whether it suited me.
