Srinagar: Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has revealed that during 2006 Karachi Test his intentions were to hurt batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar instead of getting his wicket.
Sachin and Akhtar had intense rivalry on the field and cricket fans still relish that rivalry by rewinding the match tapes of various series and matches.
Now Shoaib Akhtar has revealed that during a particular series the former Pakistan speedster wanted to hurt former India batting stalwart.
This was revealed by Shoaib Akhtar in a recent interview with Sportskeeda.
Akhtar was referring to the third Test which was played between India and Pakistan at the National Stadium in Karachi during India’s tour to the sub-continent rivals in 2006.
“I’m revealing this for the first time. I intentionally wanted to hit Sachin in that Test match. I was determined that I had to wound Sachin in that Test at any cost. Inzamam kept saying that bowl in front of the wickets, but I wanted to hit Sachin. So, I hit him on his helmet, and I felt he was done. But when I watched the video, I saw Sachin had managed to save his head,” said Akhtar.
The right-arm pacer added that while his attempt to leave Tendulkar continued, disgraced Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif troubled the Indian batters with his clinical display.
“I again tried to injure him. But on the other hand, Indian batting was facing music in the shape of Asif. I had rarely seen anyone bowl as well as the way Asif bowled on that particular day,” he added.