'Everybody used to compare Irfan Pathan with Wasim Akram because of the long and curly hair' - Suresh Raina

The coronavirus pandemic has compelled many cricketers to notch up their social media interactions. Over the last three months, many players have recalled interesting memories and incidents. They’ve also dished out their opinion over various topics amid the lockdown.

Suresh Raina is also one such cricketer who has been quite active on social media in recent times. Amid these trying times, the left-hander has spread awareness along with contributing to the battle against COVID-19. Furthermore, Raina has been a part of many live interactions.

During a recent interaction in a Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’, Raina heaped praise on former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan. Raina revealed how Pathan was compared to Wasim Akram because of similar bowling style and looks. When Raina broke into the national side, Irfan was already a big name in international cricket.

“Everybody used to compare you (Irfan) with Wasim Akram. The long and curly hair, almost like the brand ambassador of head and shoulders. When I came into the Indian side in 2005, you were already such a big name, very famous,” said Raina.

After breaking into the national side at the age of 19 against Australia, Irfan rose to success and impressed everyone with his swing bowling. In 2004, Irfan was picked for India’s tour of Pakistan where he hogged the headlines by scalping six wickets in the Multan Test.

My father didn’t like Javed Miandad’s comments: Irfan Pathan

After Irfan’s impressive performance, Javed Miandad had passed a controversial remark saying that bowlers like Irfan can be found in every street of Pakistan. Irfan recalled the incident and said that his father had not liked Miandad’s comments about his son.

“I remember Javed Miandad saying something like bowlers like Pathan are there in every street of Pakistan. My father, I remember, reading that news, he didn’t like it at all,” said Pathan.

Irfan dazzled again on the Pakistan soil when India toured the neighbours in 2006. The Baroda player scripted his name into record books by becoming second Indian to take a hat-trick in Test cricket. Irfan dismissed Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf in the third Test at Karachi to achieve this feat.

Irfan donned the Indian jersey in 29 Tests, 120 ODIs and 24 T20Is, where he scalped 100, 173, and 28 wickets respectively. He was known more for his lethal swing bowling than his batting.