Akram slams Hayden for ''third world'' comment

New Delhi, Nov 15 (UNI) Pakistan legend Wasim Akram has lashed out at Australian batsman Matthew Hayden for calling India a ''third world'' country.

The former fast bowler stated that India is ''a hundred years ahead of Australia'' and the world champions have a habit of bad-mouthing their opponents whenever they lose.

''The thing about the Aussies is that they are sore losers. They get personal when they get beaten. It is all a matter of sour grapes and after going home, they've started calling India a third-world country,'' Akram told ESPN Mobile from Karachi.

''India is a superpower now; it is a hundred years ahead of Australia, which is no more than a village, as compared to India.

You don't blame sightscreens for poor over rates. Even Allan Border was critical of Australian tactics on the pitch,'' he added.

After returning home from a humiliating 2-0 defeat in the recently concluded four-Test series in India, Hayden had blamed what he perceived as poor ground conditions and inordinate delays during the matches ''that happen in Third World countries'' for the debacle.

He alleged the Indian batsmen were reluctant to ''face up'' quickly enough and there was constant movements around sightscreens.

''They (opposition batsmen) are very difficult to get to face up,'' Hayden said.

''Often we find ourselves with hands on hips waiting for someone to either face up or someone in the sightboard to move away; all the little frustrations that happen in Third World countries and the heat as well,'' he added.

UNI AB RAI2124