"He said forgive me," Shoaib Akhtar recalls moments with Andrew Flintoff

Shoaib Akhtar will remember that series fondly. Back then, he picked up 17 wickets

PHOTO: AFP

The first Test of a three-match series will start on Thursday in Rawalpindi, and it will be England's first Test match in Pakistan after 17 years.

England's game has been revolutionised under Ben Stokes and former New Zealand great Brendon McCullum, who is currently the head coach. With the team winning six of their last seven Tests at home, dubbed "Bazball" after the coach's nickname.

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It followed a dreadful run of just one win in 17 Tests, including a 4-0 thrashing in the Ashes in Australia, which resulted in head coach Chris Silverwood being fired and Stokes taking over as captain from Joe Root.

However, low and slow pitches in Pakistan, where England last played a Test in 2005, pose a distinct threat. Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar will remember that series fondly. Back then, he picked up 17 wickets.

In an interview with The Guardian, Shoaib Akhtar recalled moments from that series against the three lions.

" I was on the edge of my sofa, wondering whether I was going to be selected for the series or not. Once I was, then my main motivation was Freddie Flintoff."

Flintoff had poked fun at the speedster after facing in the 2005 ICC Super Series. "looked like Tarzan but bowled like Jane," Flintoff had said then. Shoaib was determined to give a fitting reply to the star allrounder. "I got Freddie on my radar and started bowling bouncers. He was uncomfortable; I got him out and said, ' How do I look, Mr. Flintoff, like Tarzan or Jane?'

"He said: 'Forgive me, Shoaib. You are two different people in a span of three weeks. You were unfit and down in the mouth, and now you are totally different. What happened?' I said: 'A lot of painkillers and even more heart.'"