Virender Sehwag and Shoaib Akhtar share light hearted moment. (Courtesy: ICC/Twitter)
Former India opener Virender Sehwag and ex-Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar have been fierce competitors on the field. The duo have given it their all for their nations and often sledged each other during their playing career. However, post-retirement, the duo have often discussed their fierce rivalry.
In a recent discussion during the ILT20 2024, Sehwag described Akhtar”s long run-up in his comical style. He, however, admitted that his counter-part”s fierce bowling often gave him nightmares that ran in his mind. “Hamaray pyaray Viru bhai @virendersehwag yeh batatay huay k mera lamba run up ko kitna intezar kerwata tha. And he feels it was a big distraction,” Akhtar posted on ‘X’.
Hamaray pyaray Viru bhai @virendersehwag yeh batatay huay k mera lamba run up ko kitna intezar kerwata tha.
And he feels it was a big distraction. @ilt20official @ilt20onzee #dpworldilt20 #allinforcricket pic.twitter.com/xwzJFFpZdp— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) January 21, 2024
In the video, Sehwag said: “Mai gardan neeche kar leta tha, maine kehta tha abhi lagega 10-15 seconds aane mey (I would keep looking down, knowing that it would take 10-15 second for him to finish his run-up).”
To which, Akhtar asked, did it distract him?
Sehwag replied: “Matlab aap dekh rahe ho ki mind mey thoughts aate hai maarega … joote pe marega, beamer marega sar pe kahi toh marega (A lot of thoughts would run in mind. Will he hit my toes or a beamer on my head? He will hit somewhere).”
Sehwag and Akhtar had illustrious careers for their respective nations. The former India opener played 104 Test matches, scoring 8586 runs at an average of 49.34 and amassed 8273 runs in ODIs in 251 matches at a strike rate of 104.33.
Meanwhile, Akhtar who is also known as the “Rawalpindi Express”, scalped 178 Test wickets in 46 matches. In his ODI career, he featured in 163 matches, claiming 247 wickets at an average of 24.97.
The duo will continue to be a part of the ILT20 2024, which will run from January 19 to February 17.
