The two had a verbal battle in Dambulla.
Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar had been involved in a plethora of ugly altercations on the cricket field during his 14-year-old career including one such infamous fight with India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.
However, Harbhajan and Akhtar both share a good camaraderie with each other off the field but they were fierce competitors on the field and even had an infamous verbal battle on the pitch during a high-voltage 2010 Asia Cup encounter between India and Pakistan.
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The Rawalpindi Express had also been involved in several sledging incidents with the Indian cricket team, thanks to their historic rivalry over their border. It all started when Harbhajan smashed Shoaib for a massive six in the 47th over, which miffed the Pakistani bowler and he dished out a couple of bouncers directed towards the latter’s rib-cage and also exchanged a few words.
Harbhajan wasn’t someone who is going to take it as he gave it back to the speedster with the verbal altercation continued between the two bowlers till the last over of the Asia Cup game.
Recalling the infamous 2010 Asia Cup incident, Shoaib revealed that he went to Harbhajan’s hotel room to fight with him, but he didn’t find him that day in the Indian team hotel.
Shoaib said in a video interview on the Helo app, “I went looking for Harbhajan Singh in the hotel room to fight with him. He eats with us, roams around with us in Lahore, culture is similar to us, he is a Punjabi brother and yet he will misbehave with us? I thought I will go and fight with him in the hotel room.”
The former pacer further added, “He knew that Shoaib was coming. But I couldn’t find him. I calmed down the next day and he had also apologized.”
Noteworthy, Harbhajan had the last laugh over Shoaib after the off-spinner hit Mohammad Amir for a huge six in the last over to help India to chase down 268 against Pakistan.
(With Hindustan Times Inputs)