Shahid Afridi and I thought Rahul Dravid would spoil our Friday night: Shoaib Akhtar

Rahul Dravid was someone, who could wear the oppositions down with his defensive stroke-play. Throughout his career, Dravid was known for his grit and determination. Pakistan and Shoaib Akhtar were pretty much aware of it before the 1999 Pepsi Cup final against India at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. In that game, Dravid could only manage 25 runs off 37 deliveries.

Going down the memory lane, Akhtar revealed how the Pakistan bowlers planned to bowl against The Wall of Indian cricket. The Rawalpindi Express said that Sachin Tendulkar wasn’t a part of the match and how much desperate the Pakistan bowlers were to get rid of Dravid.

Shoaib stated that he once smashed Dravid on the pad and pleaded the umpire to give the latter out. Shoaib and Shahid Afridi were worried that Dravid would end up spoiling their Friday night.

Rahul Dravid would play against me easily, says Akhtar

“If a batsman used to play, like Rahul Dravid, we would bowl him length balls. From close to the stump we would aim the gap between bat and pad, try hit the ball on the pad. There was a final match in Bangalore, I had dismissed Sadagopan Ramesh early, we took 3-4 wickets early. Sachin Tendulkar was not playing,” Shoaib said.

“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. I hit him directly on the pad and urged 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,” he added.

Pakistan went on to win the match, comfortably by 123 runs after bowling the Men in Blue out for a mere 168 runs in 42.1 overs. Mahmood became the Player of the Match for his 28-ball 25 and for picking up five wickets for 38 runs. Shoaib also had a decent day with the ball, getting rid of Ramesh and Amay Khurasiya. Afridi scored a quickfire 61-ball 65.