A liaison officer with the Pakistan team during the recent ICC Champions Trophy on Wednesday made sensational allegations that Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar had slapped coach Bob Woolmer after they had a fight over what music should be played in the team bus in Jaipur.
Retired Army Colonel Anil Kaul, who was with the Pakistani team right through the tournament, also alleged that Shoaib had misbehaved with some girls at a discotheque which led to a brawl.
Questioning the timing of the dope charge on Shoaib, the army officer said he is coming out with this account since he wanted the world to know that there is "more to it [doping scandal] than what meets the eye".
"During the journey in the bus there was an impasse over whether to listen to Indian or Western music. Woolmer tried to crack a joke on Shoaib who then slapped him on the neck," Kaul told television channels.
"Shoaib also misbehaved with some girls in a disco which led to a brawl," he alleged.
Kaul also claimed that Woolmer wanted Pakistan Cricket Board to take stringent disciplinary action against the fast bowler following these incidents.
Kaul said barely hours after the incident, the Pakistan team announced that Shoaib and Mohammed Asif were being sent back home after a failed dope test.
The army officer also alleged that Shoaib created a ruckus at the team hotel where the Indian team was also putting up.
"Shoaib went to the floor where the Indian team was staying and started banging on the doors. He accidentally banged on the door of Indian coach Greg Chappell and his wife came out, dressed in her night clothes," he said.
"Shoaib made some comments about her. The next morning, I was having breakfast with the Pakistan team manager when Woolmer stormed in. He said even Chappell has complained about Shoaib and strict action must be taken."
Woolmer, however, denied these incidents, although he did admit that there were disciplinary issues with Akhtar.
"The issue is being blown out of proportion. I don't know who is spreading these rumours. There was a disciplinary issue when Shoaib was up in the evening, so we had a little bit of a problem," he said.
Pakistan team manager Talat Ali denied that any such incidents took place.
Shoaib's career is hanging in balance after a dope tribunal banned him for two years for testing positive for a banned steroid nandrolone.
