Wasim Akram insulted me during 1999 World Cup: Former Bangladesh all-rounder

Former Bangladesh all-rounder Khaled Mahmud has revealed that Pakistan’s legendary pacer Wasim Akram insulted him during the 1999 World Cup clash between the two sides.

The Tigers registered a famous victory over Pakistan, who went on to play the final of the event, in that match by 62 runs. Mahmud was declared player of the match as he bagged figures of 3/31 in his full quota of 10 overs and helped Bangladesh defend 224-run target.

“I took 3 wickets against Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup and they were under pressure. We had nothing to lose at that time. Wasim Akram played an over of me. I conceded a four in that over on straight drive. I looked him in the eye from the first ball of the over,” Mahmud was quoted as saying by bdcrictime.com.

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He also shared the reason behind getting under Akram’s skin during that match.

“There was a reason, we had a bowling coach … I forgot the name,” he said. “In fact, one day in front of him, I was bowling Shahriar Hossain in the net. Shahriar played a great shot. I praised his shot but the coach asked me ‘can you go to the match and say that?’ I told him ‘no, it’s impossible’. Then he said ‘just show your aggression with your eyes’.”

 “I used that towards Wasim Akram. I gave him aggression with eyes. Then he insulted me and said, ‘why you looked at me, you are small’. Then I did it again and he scolded me again,” he added.

Akram played 104 Test matches for Pakistan, bagging 414 wickets at an average of 23.6, and 356 One-day Internationals (ODIs) capturing 502 wickets at 23.5.