Shoaib Akhtar recollects his fulfilled dream at Kolkata

Former Pakistan pace bowler, Shoaib Akhtar discussed quite a few things about his career and Pakistan cricket in the Wasim Akram-hosted show named ‘The Sportsman’. Akhtar was undoubtedly one of the fiercest bowlers of his generation. Akhtar was undoubtedly one of the fiercest bowlers of his generation and not many would have taken him lightly.

When asked about the hardest batsmen to bowl at, he said that it was the former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq was the one, whom he found it difficult to get out even at the nets. “There were a lot of players in the world [whom I found difficult to get out] but the most difficult, whom I couldn’t even get out in the nets, was Inzamam,” said Akhtar.

“I think there was no other player who played me better than him. His footwork was quick, he would place himself and be ready to play. He could see the ball earlier than many. I always thought he had an extra second. However fast I bowl, he had placed himself where the ball would land,” he added.

Dream turned True in India tour:

Pakistan toured India in 1999 and Akhtar featured in the third match of the series, where he made his mark by bagging four wickets in each innings. The highlight of the match happened when the speedster dismissed star Indian batsmen Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar with consecutive yorkers. He termed it as his dream fulfilled at Kolkata.

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“You [Wasim, the then captain] gave me the ball after lunch and you were telling me to do this and that,” Akhtar reminisced. “Then you became quiet for some time and I thought to myself that I should open up and bowl a quicker one to Dravid. When Dravid was bowled, then I realised that Sachin is coming. I realised that he didn’t walk in while watching the shine on the ball.”

He continued: “I turned from my mark to bowl and you shouted, ‘O Shabi, pura told k lana andar ta k leg stump miss na ho’ (Shoaib, swing it in calculatedly so it doesn’t miss the leg stump). I turned again and I stopped and said to myself, Ya Allah, if I get this wicket, my dream will be fulfilled in Kolkatta.”

“I ran in and as I was approaching the crease, I saw that the gap between Sachin’s bat and his pads was opening. And then when I bowled outside off-stump, I knew he would miss it. As soon as it hit the middle stump, it was an amazing moment for me,” he explained the incident.

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Watch: Shoaib Akhtar’s consecutive yorkers to dismiss Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar:

I used to copy bowling actions:

Akhtar, who is considered to be one of the fastest bowlers Pakistan cricket had ever produced, he said that he used to copy the bowling action of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

“First I saw you and Imran; the I saw Waqar and you bowling,” said Shoaib. “Then I thought to myself that if I copy you people, I might become someone. Sometimes I used to copy your bowling action. I also used to copy Waqar’s hand gesture while he talks, as he doesn’t have a pinky on his left hand; so, I would copy that even.”

He pointed out the importance of having heroes as an inspiration to become successful. “Inspiration is very important. Heroes are very important. If there are no heroes you cannot get inspired. You try to become like them but then you blossom into something else. So, I copied you and Waqar. I couldn’t copy Imran because he is a little too handsome to copy,” said Akhtar.

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“I wanted to be a fast-bowler right from day one. I wanted to bowl fast and I wanted to do this only,” he concluded.