"The event has been cancelled. As of now, he (Shoaib) is not coming to Mumbai," sources said. Former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar was to release Akhtar's autobiography "Controversially Yours" at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) premises today.

According to speculations, the cancellation of the event could be due to less-than-flattering remarks in his autobiography about iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar and another senior player Rahul Dravid

In his tell-all autobiography, Akhtar has made many controversial claims. Akhtar has written that Sachin lacked the ability to finish matches in the initial stages of his career.

He drew a flak for his comments from several quarters, including former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram, under whom he made his debut and senior BCCI functionary Rajiv Shukla.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, 15 NCP activists were detained in Thane for allegedly trying to burn an effigy of Akhtar before the Municipal Corporation office.

A protest was held in suburban Dahisar against Akhtar yesterday in which demonstrators carried his posters on backs of donkeys.