'I'm always thankful to Dalmiya' - Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar: 'My own countrymen shunned me, with some even refusing to look at me' © AFP

Shoaib Akhtar has said that he would always be thankful to Jagmohan Dalmiya, the former ICC and Indian board president, for supporting him when doubts were being raised about his bowling action.

"The first time, in 1999-2000, was awful," said Shoaib, in an Asian News International report, of the suspicions raised at the time. "I'm always going to be thankful to Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, the then ICC president, for his support. But, as I said, every controversy has made me a better and stronger person. I may have felt gutted, but the controversies haven't killed my josh (passion) and desire to play for Pakistan."

Shoaib also said that the doping controversy, during the Champions Trophy last year, was one of the toughest periods in his life. "My own countrymen shunned me, with some even refusing to look at me. It was a terrible period. Everybody's body mechanism isn't the same and certain levels are higher in my body compared to others.

"My hormone level fluctuates. I didn't take drugs to enhance my performance. I don't need to. I don't know why I was treated so badly. The test didn't show I was an evil person. I've always been misunderstood. I've never seen myself bigger than the game."

In an interview with Bigstarcricket.com, Shoaib added, "The Court's decision was a relief. Those times when I was banned were the darkest of my life, as I was in such agony and pain and mental stress. But I have never taken illegal substances, I never did anything wrong."

Surprisingly, given that he didn't ultimately face any punishment at all, Shoaib blasted the Pakistan board for their handling of the matter. "The way the doping case was handled was stupid and pathetically wrong," said Shoaib. "They (the PCB) could have saved their country's respect and a big disaster because the two of us lost our fitness and never ended up going to the World Cup.

"The last four years for Pakistan cricket have been ballistic with The Oval fiasco, my doping fiasco, it was too much for Pakistan cricket to handle. Now the Pakistan team is recovering and we would like to do well once again."