Lahore:Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said coach Bob Woolmer believed he had feigned injury during his short stint in South Africa, it was reported by the Pakistan media today (Feb 1, 2007). 

"Woolmer thought I feigned injury which led to our altercation," Akhtar was quoted as saying by Dawn.

The 31-year-old paceman had to return home after suffering a hamstring injury during the second Test and picked up four wickets for 36 runs on the first day. Pakistan won the second Test by five wickets to level the series at 1-1.

South Africa, however, clinched the three-match series by winning the third Test at Cape Town by five wickets.

Akhtar, who also received a doping ban last year, was not picked for the 17-man squad initially on fitness grounds.

But he was later sent as a replacement after another paceman, Umar Gul, twisted his ankle and was ruled out of the Test series.

Ironically, Akhtar's successful return for his first Test in 12 months lasted just one day.

He could not bowl in the second innings due to the injury. To add to bowler's woes, television footage showed him pushing coach Woolmer and exchanging heated words.

A disciplinary hearing by team manager Talat Ali fined him $2,500.

Shoaib said he later apologised to Woolmer. "I apologised and he also said few soft words with me and the matter was closed," he said.

"Whenever someone doubts my commitment, my soul gets hurt, it's worse than any physical injury," Akhtar added.

Shoaib said he offered to bowl by taking painkilling injections after his recent ailment.

"I was ready to play by having injections but doctors advised against it as they feared it would have ended my chances of playing in the World Cup," he said.

 "I am 80 percent fit and am working hard to be fit for the World Cup," he said.