Shahid Afridi reveals the 'world-class batsman who dominated best spinners'

Afridi chose from the players with whom or against he played.

By Swapnil Shireesh Javkhedkar - 21 Apr, 2020

Pakistan’s superstar all-rounder Shahid Afridi recently talked about the batsman who troubled him the most and had answers to all the questions spinners asked.

According to Afridi, former Windies skipper Brian Lara troubled leg-spinners because of his swift footwork.

It would have to be Brian Lara. I got him out a few times but whenever I was bowling to him, I always had the feeling in the back of my mind that he is going to hit me for four the next ball. He had an effect on me. I never bowled with any confidence to him,” Afridi said.

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He was a world-class batsman who dominated the best spinners he came up against, even the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan in Sri Lanka. His footwork against spinners was brilliant, and the way he batted against such bowlers was a wonderful sight. He was sheer class,” he added.

The 40-year-old then went on to support Shoaib Akhtar’s idea of having an India-Pakistan series to raise funds in the fight against Coronavirus.

The entire world is fighting against coronavirus and we need unity in our region to defeat this common enemy. Such negative comments don't help at all. I don't see anything wrong with Shoaib Akhtar's suggestion for Pakistan and India to play cricket,” Afridi told Wisden.

The former Pakistan skipper then said that he was disappointed with India’s former World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev who was against the idea of having a bilateral series amid coronavirus scare.

Kapil's reaction has surprised me. I expected better from him and feel one should not talk like this in these crisis times. Sport is supposed to bring people together and build bridges. It is pretty disappointing,” the right-arm leg-spinner said.

(With IANS inputs)

By Swapnil Shireesh Javkhedkar - 21 Apr, 2020

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