Shoaib hits Mumbai’s hotspots

Notwithstanding a bad back, perhaps-feigned wrist injury and a crushing series defeat suffered against India barely three days ago, Pakistani pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar hit Mumbai’s hotspots last night.

With Gautam Singhania, Kahkashan Patel and a handful of others for company, Akhtar partied at Red Light in Kala Ghoda until well past midnight.

Nursing a single glass of Black Label all evening, Akhtar stood by the dance floor, opting not to dance himself. He did, however, choose to stop by Khyber for dinner, and then return to the South Mumbai nightclub.

“He seemed quite taken with Gautam Singhania’s silver sports car,” said one onlooker, and even had himself photographed with the low-slung Lotus Elise.

Akhtar is in the city to shoot a commercial for a motorcycle manufacturing company. Apparently, the advertisement will also feature Sachin Tendulkar, Shah Rukh Khan and Australian pace man Jason Gillespie.

Akhtar has come in for sharp criticism from his captain Inzamam-ul Haq for his “attitude” and alleged lack of discipline.

Former Pakistan keeper Rashid Latif said Akhtar had told him that he had left the field during the third Test against India because his captain did not give him the field he wanted.