Wasim Akram said – not Virender Sehwag, this batsman changed the style of opening in Test

Wasim Akram has said that the batsman who changed the opening in Test cricket was not Virender Sehwag but Shahid Afridi.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has said that the batsman who changed the opening in Test cricket was not Virender Sehwag but Shahid Afridi . Talking to Afridi on YouTube channel, Wasim Akram said, “Virender Sehwag came later in Test cricket, but in 1999-2000 Shahid Afridi changed the mind set of the opening batting.”

Why was Afridi special?

Wasim Akram said, ‘If I had been in front of Shahid Afridi, I would have known that I would get him out, but I would have also known that I would have boundaries. Shahid Afridi used to hit weak balls for sixes. Akram told that Shahid Afridi was not going to be part of the Pakistan team that visited India in 1999-2000.

Akram took Afridi on a tour of India

Akram told, “I called Imran Khan and said that Captain I want to take Afridi on a tour of India, but some selectors are not ready for this.” Imran Khan told me that you should take it firmly, he will win one or two Test matches and get him to open.

Imran Khan said the Afridi advised opening

Imran Khan told Akram that you must take him and make him open. I often discussed with Imran and his advice was very useful. After this, Shahid Afridi, an expert in explosive batting, got a chance to play on the India tour.

Shahid Afridi did wonders

After this, Shahid Afridi took the opportunity to score the first century of his Test career by playing 141 runs in the first Test match played in Chennai. Recalling that innings of Afridi, Akram said that Afridi went ahead and hit the best sixes off the balls of Anil Kumble and Sunil Joshi. Pakistan won that series 2–1.