England are set to play their first Test series in Pakistan since 2005. The Ben Stokes-led unit will take on hosts Babar Azam’s side in the first of the three-match Test series in Rawalpindi, from December 1. The second and the third Tests will be played in Multan and Karachi, respectively.
As this series approached near, former Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar recalled a heated incident involving himself and iconic England pacer Andrew Flintoff where Akhtar had the last laugh.
In the 2005 series, where Pakistan had defeated England 2-0 in the 3-Test series, Shoaib Akhtar starred with the ball and enjoyed bowling against Michael Vaughan’s team, taking a total of 17 wickets across the three games.
Akhtar recalled that Flintoff had said something about his bowling after a disappointing tournament earlier that year. After the ICC Super Series in 2005 that took place shortly before, Flintoff said that Akhtar “looked like Tarzan but bowled like Jane.”
Shoaib Akhtar said he used Flintoff’s jibe as a motivation.
“I was on the edge of my sofa wondering whether I was going to be selected for the series or not. Once I was, then my main motivation was Freddie Flintoff,” Akhtar recently told The Guardian.
During the Test series, Shoaib Akhtar dismissed Flintoff thrice, and the Pakistani fast bowler revealed what he told the England all-rounder during their duel.
“I got Freddie on my radar and I just started bowling bouncers. He was uncomfortable, I got him out and said to him: ‘How do I look Mr Flintoff, like Tarzan or Jane?’”
“He said: ‘Forgive me Shoaib. You are two different people in a span of three weeks. You were unfit and down in the mouth and now you are totally different. What happened?’ I said: ‘A lot of painkillers and even more heart.’” Akhtar recalled.
Speaking of this series now, this 3-Test rubber is crucial for both – England will want to continue their wave of Bazball while Pakistan will want to revive their home authority after losing at home to Australia earlier in the year.
