Former pacer recalled his 16-over wicketless spell on a dead batting track
30 May, 2020
PHOTO: AFP
Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar took a cheeky dig at veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi, saying the latter called himself a batsman or a bowler whenever he wanted.
While replying to Afridi’s tweet about the 2006 Lahore Test match against India, Akhtar recalled his 16-over wicketless spell on a dead batting track.
“You were always at an advantage. Calling yourself a bowler when you wanted and a batsman when you wanted. Surely a batsman in this one as you scored a 100. I was only a bowler on this bowler’s graveyard that day,” Akhtar tweeted.
You were always at an advantage. Calling yourself a bowler when you wanted and a batsman when you wanted 😛😜😝.
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) May 29, 2020
Surely a batsman in this one as you scored a 100.
Main toh bowler he tha bhai on this bowlers graveyard that day. https://t.co/bfgilfGBij
Earlier on Friday, Afridi had made a tongue-in-cheek regarding the plight of bowlers during the aforementioned Test while responding to a tweet by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s official Twitter account.
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“Great memories, this was I believe after one of my favourite Test inns in Lahore against India in 2006, Shoaib was always a threat for batsmen but this was a very flat wicket and bowlers were left to share jokes to overcome their pain,” said Afridi while quoting the tweet, which showed him and former speedster Shoaib Akhtar sharing a light moment on the field.
Pakistan declared their first innings in the match on 679/7, with Afridi, 103 off 80 balls, being one of the four centurions from the home side.
In response, Indian notched up 410/1 with the help of a double century, 254, by opener Virender Sehwag. The Test match ended in a draw.
