Just In: Former Pakistan Fast Bowler Shoaib Akhtar reveals that he didn’t know about Sachin Tendulkar when he stepped into the cricketing world in 1997. It was my teammate Saqlain Mushtaq who told me about Sachin’s stature.
While talking on a Sports Channel, Akthar said, “Saqlain told me about Sachin Tendulkar and his stature. I didn’t know about him. I was lost in my own world. I didn’t know. I only knew what I will do and what the batter was thinking.”
Tendulkar, who dominated the cricketing world for more than 25 years, is the highest run-scorer in ODIs and Tests. The former right-hand batter has scored 3,4357runs in 664 games across all three cricketing formats.
In contrast, Shoaib Akhtar, better known as “Rawalpindi Express”, was the Fastest Pacer during his playing era. Akthar took 444 international wickets in 224 matches across all formats, including Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
In the same interview, Akthar also opens ups about his experience and passion for fast bowling. He said, “The big difference between your fast bowlers and ours was that we used to look for excuses to bowl fast.”
“Whenever I used to realize that the ball was reverse-swinging, I though, If I get a spell here, I will run through the batters. I will just take the five wickets there and win the match for Pakistan. You can’t be a star without being a match-winner. We used to win games for the country”, further added by Akthar.
Though Akthar took retirement from International Cricket, his astonishing bowling records are yet to be challenged by today’s young pacers. Above all, he is the only bowler to bowl at 161.3 kph against England in World Cup 2003.