File picture of Shoaib Akhtar© YouTube
England will play their first Test match in Pakistan in 17 years when the primary Test of a three-match sequence begins in Rawalpindi on Thursday. Under Ben Stokes and former New Zealand nice McCullum, England have remodelled their sport – profitable six of their final seven Tests at house taking part in what has been dubbed “Bazball” after the coach’s nickname. That got here after a dismal sequence of only one win in 17 Tests – together with a 4-0 humiliation within the Ashes in Australia – leading to head coach Chris Silverwood being sacked and Stokes taking up as skipper from Joe Root.
But low and gradual pitches in Pakistan – the place England final performed a Test in 2005 – pose a distinct problem for England. That sequence was a memorable one for Pakistan tempo nice Shoaib Akhtar. He picked 17 wickets again then.
Recalling the sequence, Akhtar instructed The Guardian in an interview: “I was on the edge of my sofa wondering whether I was going to be selected for the series or not. Once I was, then my main motivation was Freddie Flintoff.”
Flintoff had poked enjoyable on the speedster after dealing with within the 2005 ICC Super Series. “looked like Tarzan but bowled like Jane,” Flintoff had mentioned then. Shoaib was decided to provide a becoming reply to the star allrounder. “I got Freddie on my radar and I just started bowling bouncers. He was uncomfortable, I got him out and said to him: ‘How do I look Mr Flintoff, like Tarzan or Jane?’
“He mentioned: ‘Forgive me Shoaib. You are two completely different individuals in a span of three weeks. You have been unfit and down within the mouth and now you’re completely completely different. What occurred?’ I mentioned: ‘A whole lot of painkillers and much more coronary heart.'”
In the present sequence, England will play three Tests in Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi.
With AFP inputs
Featured Video Of The Day
FIFA WC 2022: Japan Fans Win Hearts For Cleaning Litter From Stadium
Topics talked about on this article