Shoaib Akhtar has confirmed that he's in the process of identifying a Mumbai-based lawyer to file a defamation suit against ESPN Star, as reported by After Hours on Thursday. "You can't compare me to a dog and get away," said a visibly upset Akhtar. "The remark was totally uncalled for. For a cricketer who is idolised by so many, including children, such remarks are intolerable."

Akhtar, who was repeatedly referred to be as incorrigible as a 'kutte ki dhum' on ESPN's daily news magazine Sports Centre, said he has entrusted his closefriend Vikash Varma of Property Guards, to handle the case on his behalf in Mumbai. "I've approached Satish Maneshinde because he's a close friend and a great lawyer," Vikash told DNA. "The lawyer and I will soon be visiting Pakistan to discuss the case details."

Despite several attempts, Sameer Bajaj, manager corporate communications, ESPN, could not come up with an official answer. Shoaib, meanwhile, continued to fume: "Such comments can affect the delicate India-Pakistan relationship adversely. Do human rights' activists allow a cricketer to be compared to dog on international television?"