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Monday, October 14, 2024

Long before Sehwag it was Afridi who changed Test cricket batting, says Wasim Akram

Sehwag and Afridi. Pic Twitter

Heaping praise on the aggressive nature of batting by Shahid Afridi, former Pakistan cricket team skipper Wasim Akram has also revealed that it was Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan who had encouraged him to include Afridi in Test team.

Pakistan renowed sports journalist Saj Sadiq while quoting Akram on his official Twitter has said that former pacer claimed that former Pakistan skipper swashbuckling hard hitting batsman Shahid Afridi changed mentality of batting in Test Cricket long before Indian legend Virender Sehwag stepped in.

“In Test cricket, Virender Sehwag came later but in 1999-2000 it was Shahid Afridi who changed the mindset of opening the innings in Test cricket, ” Saj Sadiq tweeted.

In another tweet Sadiq while quoting Akram again revealed that Akram before going for India series tour in 1999-2000 had taken suggestion of Imran Khan on inclusion of Afridi in Pakistan Test team. And the Pakistan World Cup winning skipper had encouraged him to include Afridi and said he will win you one or two matches.

“I called Imran Khan before the 1999-2000 tour of India & told him that I wanted to take Shahid Afridi on the tour but a few selectors were against it. He told me you should definitely take him, he will win you one or two Tests and make him open the batting, ” Saj Sadiq tweeted.

Shahid Afridi was instrumental in Pakistan’s success during that tour and also scored Test Hundrend.

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