Wasim Akram has narrated a hilarious sledging incident that took place between players of the Australian cricket team and a ‘Pakistan great’. The incident occurred during the 1996 Carlton and United tri-series in Australia also featuring West Indies.
Wasim Akram, who was captain of the Pakistan team, revealed how the likes of Australian pacer Glenn McGrath and late leg spinner Shane Warne began mouthing words to the batter, but the player, whose identity Wasim Akram did not reveal, and his reaction floored him.
Wasim Akram Revealed Glenn McGrath And Shane Warne Were Abusing A Great Pakistan Batter In An Australian Accent But The Batter Didn’t Understand It
Pakistan finally went on to raise the 1996 Carlton and United tri-series as they thumped West Indies 2-0 within the finals. Wasim Akram completed with 15 wickets in that series playing 10 games averaging 18, the 2nd most by a Pakistan bowler in that series after Saqlain Mushtaq, and the third overall. Late Shane Warne was the main wicket-taker with 19 scalps in eight matches averaging 17.1.
“One time, our great batsman was batting in Sydney. He was batting on 100 and I was batting with him. So, then I saw Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne abusing him in that Australian accent. I can’t say it on live TV. I told my partner ‘Listen, you know what they are saying, right?’
He said ‘Paaji, I can’t understand a thing they’re saying’. Later, I told the Australians, guys, if you are going to abuse anyone, make sure you do it in a language that the person understands,” Akram said on the ‘To Be Honest’ show on YouTube on the channel ‘Nashpati Prime’.
Wasim Akram played in an era where the competition between bowlers and batters was pretty stiff.
Wasim Akram Was Always Very Confident As A Pacer
Wasim Akram, who picked up over 900 international wickets during his career, stated that he enjoyed his battles with some of the all-time greats, and although there were occasions when the opposition got on top of him, the Pakistan great never believed he could not get them out.
“As a fast bowler, I was always very confident. I have been smashed too, by Viv Richards, Adam Gilchrist, Sachin Tendulkar on his day, Brian Lara on his day, Ricky Ponting… but I never backed down. I played a pretty top quality of cricket throughout,” added Akram.
He bowled to some of the greatest batters of all time – Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Aravinda de Silva, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, and looking back at his battles, Wasim Akram has cherished his time playing cricket for Pakistan. Wasim Akram picked 916 wickets in Tests and ODIs in 460 matches.