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Sunday, March 25, 2012

Shahid Afridi assaults fan at airport, claims daughter was pushed


Karachi: It was a not a very happy homecoming for Shahid Afridi after Pakistan's Asia Cup triumph as he got into a scuffle with a fan at the airport, claiming that he reacted angrily only when his three-year-old daughter was pushed to the ground by eager admirers.

"I know what I did was wrong. I should have controlled myself. But I couldn't take it when my daughter was pushed to the ground," Afridi said. 

Afridi, who was adjudged Man of the Match in the Asia Cup final against Bangladesh that Pakistan won by just two runs, insisted that he had lot of love and respect for his fans and always tried to be pleasant with them.

"But when my daughter who was waiting for me near my car got pushed by fans trying to get near me I lost my temper," he said.

Afridi's brother Mushtaq insisted that the man involved in the incident was not a fan.

"I wouldn't describe him as a fan Shahid can never think of hurting a fan," he said.

The popular allrounder was caught on camera attacking a fan by pushing and slapping him at the Karachi airport soon after his arrival from Dhaka after winning the Asia Cup title.

Minutes after he had spoken to the media waiting for him at the airport, where a large number of fans had gathered to welcome their heroes, Geo News and other channels flashed footage of a visibly angry Afridi attacking a fan dressed in a blue T-shirt and pushing him to the ground. 

According to the channels, the fan, who was badly roughed up, had pestered Afridi for an autograph.

But another channel said the Pakistani all-rounder lost his temper as his little daughter who was with him was pushed around by the fans clamouring for an autograph from Afridi.

"Whatever the reason for him losing his temper but Afridi's actions cannot be justified at all," one channel said.

Afridi appeared very angry and upset and as he was getting into his car, he turned around and attacked the fan first pushing him to the ground and than trying to kick him before his brother Mushtaq got in the way and prevented the situation from getting out of hand.

Afridi was also seen scolding another fan and threatening to slap him before he got into the waiting car.

The incident which was repeatedly flashed by channels is likely to come as a shock to his countless fans who have always backed him in all situations.

"We don't know what happened but certainly Afridi should not have lost his temper in this way," a board official said. 

Federer named greatest player by a tennis channel

Los Angeles: Roger Federer has been named the greatest player of all time by America's Tennis Channel.

The television network's "100 Greatest of All Time," a five-night series, aired this week and culminated on Friday.

Federer edged Rod Laver for the top spot. Rounding out the top 10 were Steffi Graf in third, followed by Martina Navratilova, Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal, Bjorn Borg, Margaret Court, Chris Evert and Billie Jean King.

 The rankings were determined by an international panel 

Dhoni going to be back in his long hair look

Indian Cricket captian Mahendra singh Dhoni will soon have his long locks back.

Dhoni, who was in Kolkata for a promotional event, chose not to speak about cricket and mostly talked about his passion for bikes and his hair.

Sporting a white shirt, Dhoni told the gathering that his bald look, immediately after winning the World Cup last year, was in no way related to some offering to God.

"I'm growing my hair again. People said that I shaved my hair because of some 'mannat'. But actually I wanted a lean look with the summer approaching so I decided to go bald," Dhoni said.

Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had become a Dhoni admirer during India's tour of 2006 and had suggested that he should not get a haircut since he looked good in long hair.

At the event, Dhoni also revealed how his fascination for bikes started. 

"There used to be the old Rajdoot motorcyles in 'Hero'... I really liked the model. I still have about eight of them," he said.

Known for his cool demeanour, Dhoni further said that the team discusses petty things even during matches.

"People often ask what we discuss in the middle of a high-voltage match. But we generally talk about what's there for food at hotel...," he smiled.

Dhoni also stumped the gathering with his rendition of 'Main pal do pal ka shayar hoon' from the movie 'Kabhie Kabhie'.