'I used towel as a chest protector but it didn't help' - Simon Hughes recalls facing 'terrifying' Imran Khan

Pakistan has a history of producing world-class speedsters over the past few decades. One of those pacers, who also emerged as one of the most decorated Pakistan players, was their former skipper Imran Khan. Along with his all-round ability and lethal pace, Imran’s leadership skill was also considered second to none.

Former England cricketer Simon Hughes recalled an instance and revealed his encounter with Imran Khan. Hughes had made Imran angry during an English county encounter and he later had to face the consequences. 60-year-old Hughes revealed that his captain had asked him to rest which prompted Imran to replace his helmet with a hat. However, as per the change in the decision of the skipper, Hughes was asked to bowl another over.

“But actually the scariest moment was in a match at Hove. I’d been bowling to Imran Khan and had just completed a seven-over spell on a hot day. When Phil Edmonds, our Middlesex captain that day, said ‘okay have a blow, Yozzer’, Imran overheard,” revealed Hughes to The Cricketer.

“‘Are you coming off?’ he asked. I replied that I was. I was the only quick bowler in the Middlesex team that day so Imran signalled for the 12th man to take his helmet off and bring out his floppy hat. Seeing this Edmonds at the end of the next over suddenly said ‘go on have one more’, adding ‘and let him have one!’” he added.

As instructed, Hughes hurled a bouncer at Imran and dismissed him. The Pakistan stalwart jerked his head back in surprise and his floppy hat fell on the stumps, making him walk back to the pavilion.

Imran set a very attacking field: Simon Hughes

Imran stormed off and Hughes knew what was coming at him in response. Hughes expected a barrage of bouncers and that’s what happened when he came on to bat. He even stuffed a towel down his shirt to use it as a chest protector.

“Imran stuck with the floppy and third ball I bounced him as instructed. He jerked his head back in surprise and the floppy fell on his stumps. He stormed off in high dudgeon. Of course, when I came in to bat at No.10 he was bowling down the hill at Hove (as the pavilion is side-on to the pitch at Hove the bowling always looks faster there than at other grounds).

I had sourced as much protection as I could from the dressing room, including stuffing a towel down my shirt as a chest protector. It didn’t help,” remembered Hughes.

“Imran set a very attacking field and the sight of him steaming down the hill towards me was genuinely terrifying. I knew what I was going to get. Sure enough, it was a barrage,” he added.