Wasim Akram claims Saleem Malik treated him like a 'servant'

In his biography 'Sultan: A Memoir', fast-bowling cricketer Wasim Akram has claimed that former Pakistan cricket team captain Saleem Malik treated him like a servant, asking him to wash his clothes and demanding massages.

Akram revealed that Malik, who was banned in 2000 after being accused of match-fixing, took advantage of his seniority. The 56-year-old sports celebrity claimed that Malik would ask for massages during tours, among other things.

Malik debuted in 1982 whereas Akram did so in 1984. Malik captained the national team for three years from 1992 to 1995, when the veteran bowled played under his leadership.

"He would take advantage of my junior status. He was negative, selfish, and treated me like a servant. He demanded I massage him, he ordered me to clean his clothes and boots," an excerpt from the biography read.

"I was angry when some of the younger team members in Ramiz, Tahir, Mohsin, and Shoaib Mohammad invited me to nightclubs," Akram wrote pointing towards the exclusion faced by the captain.

However, Malik has denied the allegations. Malik said in an interview that if he were a selfish captain, he would not have allowed Akram to bowl.

“I wanted to ask him for his view on his comments and in what sense did he write that," Malik said.

"We used to go on tour for Pakistan, there used to be laundry machines there. He never had to use his hands,” he added.

Malik alleged that Akram's claims were a publicity stunt. "It looks like he did it for publicity."

“Till I don't talk to him or I don't check his book, I don't want to comment on it. We are colleagues and spent a good time together. So I don't want to create any controversy," Malik also said.

Malik said that the veteran bowler was "insulting himself" by talking about washing clothes and giving massages.