'Asif was a magician, made me look like an ordinary bowler' Shoaib Akhtar

‘Asif was a magician, made me look like an ordinary bowler’ Shoaib Akhtar

KARACHI: Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar heaped praises on his counterpart Mohammad Asif by terming the latter as a magician.

In an interview, with an Indian website Hindustan Times, Akhtar recalled the nail-biting Test series between the two arch-rivals Pakistan and India and revealed how Asif made him look like an ordinary bowler.

“The way Asif trapped the Indian team…I have never seen a magician like him. He made me look like a very ordinary fast bowler. I remember him bowling in the 2006 Test match against India. He bowled an inswinger to Laxman and he was bowled out. I told him, ‘What a fluke! It does happen once or twice’. He replied saying, ‘I will dismiss him in the exact same manner in the next innings’. It did not swing that much in that delivery, but it was exactly the same, it seamed as well and Laxman was gone,” Akhtar told Hindustan times.

Akhtar further carried his praise for Asif and claimed the latter’s calibre was the same as that of the legendary pacer Wasim Akram.

“While I was trying to hurt Sachin, Indian batting was facing the music in the name of Asif. I have seen such bowling performances only once or twice. The only other bowler who had the same calibre was Wasim Akram,” Akhtar said.

It is pertinent to mention here that Asif’s seven wickets in Karachi Test bolstered Pakistan to defeat India by 341 runs in the third and final test to win the series 1-0. The previous two Tests were drawn.

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