Kolkata: Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has troubled many Indian batsmen over the years with his lethal pace. But there is one Indian batsman who had been always a difficult proposition for him to bowl. Judging Akhtar’s claims in the past, he usually boasts his track record against India and stated Sachin Tendulkar was not big deal for him.
In the time when Akhtar reignes supreme, India have produced some of the greatest batsmen ever in Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly, and many more. Akhtar claimed none of them was much trouble for him leaving behind one name, the legendary Rahul Dravid.
a. “If a batsman used to play, like Rahul Dravid, we would bowl him length balls. From close to the stump we would aim at the gap between bat and pad, try to hit the ball on the pad,” he said.
“Dravid was a difficult and determined batsman. It was difficult for me as well as him. He would play me quite easily. There was a final match in Bangalore, I had dismissed Sadagoppan Ramesh early, we took 3-4 wickets. Sachin Tendulkar was not playing. Shahid Afridi and I said Rahul Dravid will take a lot of time and it’s Friday night today. Afridi said ‘bowl something and take his wicket else he will play for long’,” Akhtar recalled.
“I hit him directly on the pad and urged the umpire to raise his fingers. I even said it’s our Friday night. He did not give the decision in our favour but we had won in the end. Dravid was a difficult and determined batsman. It was difficult for me as well as him. He would play against me easily.”
