When Virender Sehwag offered to help Shoaib Akhtar
We are familiar with the rivalry between India and Pakistan cricket teams on the cricket field. But, we are unfamiliar with the rare friendlier incident on the field between an Indian and a Pakistani cricketer. There are two cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi and two, Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag whose rivalry with the former two was the most famous. Virender Sehwag came with an epic reply to Shoaib Akhtar’s sledging. In 2003, World Cup, controversial Akhtar was bruised by Sehwag and Sachin in Cape Town. They played uppercuts to outdo the ploy of Shoaib’s lethal bouncer.
But, brazen Akhtar did not give up sledging Sehwag. Once Akhtar sledged Sehwag, said he is not afraid of the Indian opener. Sehwag in epic reply urged Akhtar sledge the batsman who is standing at the striking end. The batsman who was standing at the striking end was Sachin Tendulkar. India was touring Pakistan for five match ODI series and three-match Test series. In Lahore, Pakistan took on India for the first time in a bilateral series. India won the series 3-2. But, Akhtar could not stop his frustration as he failed to stop Tendulkar, sledged Sehwag, said he would send the Indian master back in the dressing room. But, Sachin drove Akhtar for a beautiful boundary in the next ball. Akhtar was going back to his bowling mark passing Sehwag. The Indian opener, counter sledged Akhtar, “Bap Bap hota, beta beta hota” (Father will always be a father to his son). Sehwag indicated Pakistan’ s partition from India in 1947. On many occasion, Akhtar tried to prevent the running between the wicket of Tendulkar and Sehwag being stood in the middle of the pitch.
The India duo used to nudge Akhtar with their bat to make their way clear to mark.
But, very few know the friendlier side of Sehwag and Akhtar. In 2007, Pakistan were touring India, in the fourth ODI at Captain Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior, 15 November 2007 Sachin’s straight drive hit Akhtar’s left leg. Akhtar in pain was laying on the ground, but Virender Sehwag instead of taking a single offered his helping hand to Akhtar, the Pakistani bowler stood up and went back to the bowling mark to finish his over.
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