West Indies cricket great Daren Sammy has shared that Shoaib Akhtar made him question himself on his debut that whether he wanted to play cricket again or not.
Read more – Daren Sammy spotted enjoying ‘Pakistan’s beauty’ in Swat
In an exclusive interview with The Current, Sammy shared many things about his experience with Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi, Pakistan’s tour and hospitality, PSL memories and his debut.
Talking about his first encounter with Akhtar, he said: “When I made my debut for the West Indies in the Champions Trophy, I remember Pakistan playing West Indies at the Rose Bowl in Hampshire and they were opening with Mohammad Sami, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar.”
“I saw Shoaib Akhtar bowling a bouncer to Brian Lara and hit him in the head. Brian Lara fell back probably almost unconscious. I was sitting and I was 19 years old next to Dwayne Bravo. I literally questioned whether I wanted to play cricket again. Shoaib Akhtar did that to me,” said Sammy.
The former all-rounder further revealed that he told this story to Shoaib Akhtar himself a few days ago in Islamabad.
“I met him four days ago in Islamabad and I gave him that story. He said ‘Brian clipped him for four on the first ball’ and I guess that was his response. It was a joy to watch the Rawalpindi Express coming down with his hair flying. Shoaib Akhtar with his pace. In the current day, even though I am not playing I would pad up easily against any bowler and try to hit them out of the park,” he said.
Sammy further revealed that players touring Pakistan now ask about golf courses instead of questioning the security situation of the country.
Peshawar’s coach stated that bringing the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to Pakistan was the first step that paved the way for cricket’s revival in the country.
“I am not sure [when West Indies will visit Pakistan next], I have not checked the calendar. But I think we were about to a year before last year. I think now the teams are coming. I remember us taking a small step in the PSL two and getting to the finals in Lahore. I think that was a small step in the right direction,” Sammy said.
Read more – VIDEO: Daren Sammy plays tape ball on the streets of Lahore
He believed that the questions regarding security are slowly diminishing from players’ minds while visiting Pakistan.
“Now Hashim Amla and I were having a conversation and I think Javed asks what the difference is between now and five years ago. I think the major difference coming to Pakistan now, four years ago players would be calling me and go ‘Darren, I am going over there [Pakistan], do you think we should go?’ When West Indies was coming the captain had to call me and go, ‘Man should I go on this tour?’. Now players asking where they can play golf and questions like can we go to dinner in these or these places. The quote-unquote threat of security, that is slowly diminishing from people’s minds and I think that is what we want,” he concluded.
Talking about his favourite memory from the PSL, Sammy shared that his favourite memory was when they clinched the the cup in the second season of PSL.
For more interesting revelations, watch the video here:
