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In a video that went viral, Wasim Akram was seen speaking to Abhishek Sharma and lauding his blistering hundred against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai earlier this month.
‘England Ka Dumba Banaya’: Wasim Akram Reveals Story Behind Meeting Abhishek Sharma (Picture credit: AP)
Former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has revealed that he couldn’t recognise Abhishek Sharma at first during the India vs Pakistan game in Dubai on Sunday, February 23, but soon realised it was the same player who had thrashed England in a recent T20I match.
In a video that went viral, Akram was seen speaking to Abhishek and lauding his blistering hundred against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai earlier this month.
Speaking after the Afghanistan vs England game, which saw the former oust the 2019 ODI World Cup winners from the Champions Trophy, Akram revealed that he couldn’t recognise Abhishek at first.
“Look, I met him in Dubai. I was in the DP World Box. I didn’t recognise him at first. This young boy came up to me and said ‘I am Abhishek Sharma. I said wahi ‘Abhishek jisne maar maar k England ka dumba banaya?,” Akram said while speaking on the Dressing Room show.
“I said, ‘Well done, beta. ‘ He’s a very good-looking boy. I have seen a couple of clips of his batting. I think he has a very bright future. I gave him only one piece of advice: I said this is just the start, think you have to play for another 15-20 years for your country,” Akram added.
Comparing Abhishek’s brilliant 37-ball hundred to Shahid Afridi’s then-fastest ODI hundred against Sri Lanka back in 1996, Akram said that the former has a bright future.
Afridi had scored the fastest hundred in ODI history in 37 deliveries against Sri Lanka in 1996.
“The kind of talent that he has, I believe he is also a very good fielder. What a player and what an innings. A 37-ball hundred. I had heard of Boom Boom Afridi and now this,” Akram said.
“I have seen his innings, and I think he is an excellent hard-hitting batter. He just needs to keep focusing on his game,” Akram added.
Abhishek ended with 135 off 54 deliveries in that game against England, breaking best mate Shubman Gill’s record for the highest individual T20I score by an Indian.
Abhishek smacked a whopping 13 sixes in that whirlwind innings of his, leaving the England bowlers hapless.
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