Just a day after claiming that he saw
Sachin Tendulkar's legs trembling while
facing Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan's
former captain Shahid Afridi has now
stated that he did not intend to
question the Indian batting icon's
greatness and was only talking about
one incident. "I am not denying what
I have said. I have seen that
Tendulkar was not at all comfortable
against Shoaib in Kolkata Test in
1999. It was Shoaib's first tour of
India and he bowled out Sachin
without giving him a chance to open
his account. He also claimed (Rahul)
Dravid's wicket in both the innings,"
Afridi told 'PTI-Bhasha' from Karachi.
"Shoaib was in full form on that tour
and had tremendous speed. He
terrorised almost all the batsmen in
the world at that time. I have seen
Sachin trembling as I was fielding at
square leg. I am still saying that.
"But this was only one incident. He
never spared Shoaib after that. We all
have seen what happened in 2003
World Cup," he added.
Afridi went on to state that the Indian
batsman does not need his certificate.
"Sachin is one of the best batsmen and
the whole world knows this. He does
not need mine or anybody else's
certificate. His records speak for him,"
Afridi said.
The controversy-prone former captain
yesterday backed his Akhtar's claim
that Tendulkar was uncomfortable
against his pace, saying that he had
once witnessed the Indian batsman
"trembling" while facing the pacer.
Afridi, who retired after revolting
against his own board and has a
history of making controversial
remarks, said Tendulkar was uneasy
against Akhtar, a claim which the
pacer made in his recently-launched
autobiography 'Controversially Yours'.
Afridi said his remarks should not be
construed as demeaning to Tendulkar.
"I am not raising any question on
Sachin's greatness. Everyone knows
that how many sixes Sachin has
smashed on Shoaib's bowling after
that. But sometimes it happens. I got
out on a duck against a weak
opponent like Zimbabwe in Peshawar
when I was at the peak of my career,"
he said.
"Any batsman can go through this on a
good wicket and opposite a good
bowler. That was Shoaib's day and
Sachin was nervous that day. Media
should not read much into it as it can
happen to Don Bradman as well,"
added the all-rounder.
Afridi said he is a huge fan of
Tendulkar both on and off the field.
"I am a huge fan of Sachin. He is not
only a great cricketer but a humble
human being as well. I have only one
photograph on the wall of my drawing
room and that is of Sachin. It has
Sachin's autograph on it, do I need to
say more," said Afridi.
When asked if he will talk to Tendulkar
to clarify his position on this issue, he
said that there is no need for it.
"The whole matter is blown out of
proportion by Indian media. Sachin is a
great cricketer and he will understand
what I am saying. I have not said
anything wrong," he said.
"Media should play a positive role to
reduce tension between the two
neighbours. When we went to play the
World Cup in India earlier this year,
We saw all the negative reporting
against Pakistani team. Indians love
and respect us but not their media,"
he said.
On the possibility of his comeback in
international Cricket, he said that he
wants to play for another two-three
years.
"Inshah Allah, I will be back in national
team. I think I can play for 2-3 years.
I am not going to beg for it but I know
that I will represent Pakistan again,"
said Afridi.
---------- Post added at 12:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:21 AM ----------
So Afridi has Sachin's picture in the drawing room.. nice to know thisDidn't question Tendulkar's greatness: Afridi - Hindustan Times
Sachin Tendulkar's legs trembling while
facing Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan's
former captain Shahid Afridi has now
stated that he did not intend to
question the Indian batting icon's
greatness and was only talking about
one incident. "I am not denying what
I have said. I have seen that
Tendulkar was not at all comfortable
against Shoaib in Kolkata Test in
1999. It was Shoaib's first tour of
India and he bowled out Sachin
without giving him a chance to open
his account. He also claimed (Rahul)
Dravid's wicket in both the innings,"
Afridi told 'PTI-Bhasha' from Karachi.
"Shoaib was in full form on that tour
and had tremendous speed. He
terrorised almost all the batsmen in
the world at that time. I have seen
Sachin trembling as I was fielding at
square leg. I am still saying that.
"But this was only one incident. He
never spared Shoaib after that. We all
have seen what happened in 2003
World Cup," he added.
Afridi went on to state that the Indian
batsman does not need his certificate.
"Sachin is one of the best batsmen and
the whole world knows this. He does
not need mine or anybody else's
certificate. His records speak for him,"
Afridi said.
The controversy-prone former captain
yesterday backed his Akhtar's claim
that Tendulkar was uncomfortable
against his pace, saying that he had
once witnessed the Indian batsman
"trembling" while facing the pacer.
Afridi, who retired after revolting
against his own board and has a
history of making controversial
remarks, said Tendulkar was uneasy
against Akhtar, a claim which the
pacer made in his recently-launched
autobiography 'Controversially Yours'.
Afridi said his remarks should not be
construed as demeaning to Tendulkar.
"I am not raising any question on
Sachin's greatness. Everyone knows
that how many sixes Sachin has
smashed on Shoaib's bowling after
that. But sometimes it happens. I got
out on a duck against a weak
opponent like Zimbabwe in Peshawar
when I was at the peak of my career,"
he said.
"Any batsman can go through this on a
good wicket and opposite a good
bowler. That was Shoaib's day and
Sachin was nervous that day. Media
should not read much into it as it can
happen to Don Bradman as well,"
added the all-rounder.
Afridi said he is a huge fan of
Tendulkar both on and off the field.
"I am a huge fan of Sachin. He is not
only a great cricketer but a humble
human being as well. I have only one
photograph on the wall of my drawing
room and that is of Sachin. It has
Sachin's autograph on it, do I need to
say more," said Afridi.
When asked if he will talk to Tendulkar
to clarify his position on this issue, he
said that there is no need for it.
"The whole matter is blown out of
proportion by Indian media. Sachin is a
great cricketer and he will understand
what I am saying. I have not said
anything wrong," he said.
"Media should play a positive role to
reduce tension between the two
neighbours. When we went to play the
World Cup in India earlier this year,
We saw all the negative reporting
against Pakistani team. Indians love
and respect us but not their media,"
he said.
On the possibility of his comeback in
international Cricket, he said that he
wants to play for another two-three
years.
"Inshah Allah, I will be back in national
team. I think I can play for 2-3 years.
I am not going to beg for it but I know
that I will represent Pakistan again,"
said Afridi.
---------- Post added at 12:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:21 AM ----------
So Afridi has Sachin's picture in the drawing room.. nice to know thisDidn't question Tendulkar's greatness: Afridi - Hindustan Times
