Hello and welcome to Walk The Talk. My guest today is a very special person. Somebody whom we usually love quite a lot on both sides of the border, but we don’t love him so much when he bowls at our batsmen.
Shoaib Akhtar, welcome to Walk The Talk. Irrespective of what I said, I can tell you that you have lots and lots of fans and admirers in India.
Ya, it’s good to know that. It’s great to be here.
I know you had played earlier, but you really made your fame in India in the Test against India in Kolkata.
That was a day, my fourth Test match and there was an opportunity to bowl against Sachin (Tendulkar) for the first time in my life. Getting him out first ball was a pretty amazing dream-come-true. I think it’s one of the biggest days in my life.
But has it quite worked out the same way with Sachin after that?
Well we are just playing a game of cricket, not battling for something. It depends on the day, and Sachin is one of the greatest batsmen in history. He’s legendary. Sometimes he has his day and sometimes I have my day.
But trust me, all it takes for me is one ball to get him out.
That’s true, that’s why bowlers always win at the end of the day. A batsman can hit you for four good shots, score 16 or 20 runs. But one good ball, and the bowler wins.
Well bowlers have more opportunities to bowl and more opportunities to come back harder. But a batsman is just a shot away with one ball.
But Shoaib, are you the fastest bowler in the world?
Well, what do you think? (laughs)
I don’t know. There’s always this thing between you, Brett Lee, Shane Bond. It goes on. But you tell me.
Well I’ve crossed 100 miles per hour. I just never tried to cross it or aim for it because I knew I could bowl 100 mph, I knew it right from the beginning. But most important for me is I am winning games for my country. That’s more important, to perform well, rather than just bowl fast.
How do you compare yourself with other fast bowlers of the times like Shane Bond, Brett Lee ...
I don’t know what to say about myself ... I’ve played with Wasim Akram and I have learnt a lot from him. I think I am not only a fast but a clever bowler.
You or Wasim?
I think both (laughs), because I learnt a lot from him.
I think you are faster and he’s certainly cleverer.
Well I think I have learnt a little bit of cleverness from Wasim, I know what to do in situations. I am not afraid to apply my mind towards my bowling and towards the game. And I have been winning games for my country.