Shoaib Akhtar: “He was hitting the ball so hard that day that I thought if the ball came towards me, it would go through me”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Iconic Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has recalled how hard former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq used to hit the ball when batting, saying he thought if the ball came back at him, “it would go through me”.
Razzaq is widely regarded as one of the best all-rounders the country has ever produced as he could inflict serious damage with the bat and wreak havoc with the ball as well.
The 45-year-old played 46 Tests and amassed 1,946 runs, which included three centuries and seven fifties, at an average of 28.61.
He also claimed 100 wickets at an average of 36.94.
Razzaq also represented Pakistan in 265 ODIs and finished with 5,080 runs, which included three hundreds and 23 half-centuries, at an average of 29.70.
In regards to his bowling, he snapped up 269 wickets at an average of 31.83.
As for his T20I career, he made 393 runs in 32 games at an average of 20.68, while also taking 20 wickets at an average of 19.75.
“He was hitting the ball so hard that day that I thought if the ball came towards me, it would go through me,” Akhtar was quoted as saying by NDTV.
The Pakistan team have endured a difficult time in international cricket as of late as they crashed out in the group stage of the 2025 Champions Trophy after going winless throughout their campaign.
They then embarked on a white-ball tour of New Zealand and were demolished 4-1 in the T20I series before being whitewashed 3-0 in the ODIs.
Many of the Pakistan players then featured in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), which the Lahore Qalandars won.
Following PSL 10, the men in green took on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series and won 3-0.
Pakistan are now touring Bangladesh, but things aren’t going according to plan as they trail 2-0 in the ongoing three-match T20I series.
The 3rd T20I will take place on July 24 in Mirpur.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza and Sufiyan Muqeem
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