‘Went to his room to fight with him’: Shoaib Akhtar on a quarrel with Harbhajan Singh after the 2010 Asia Cup game
Shoaib Akhtar recalls 2010 Asia Cup game against India (Image Source: Youtube SG/Twitter)

Former Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar has been quite active on social media platforms these days. Of course, the reason behind it is the current situation of coronavirus pandemic followed by the nationwide lockdown. Over the past few days, Akhtar has been dropping thoughts on various topics and even revealing some exciting stories involving cricketers from around the globe.

Now, the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ has shared another gripping tale concerning an Indian cricketer. He recalled the 2010 India vs Pakistan Asia Cup match where he seemingly wanted to take up a fight with Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

It is a well-known fact that both Harbhajan and Akhtar share a good friendship with each other off the field, but whenever the two played against each other on the cricket pitch, they acted like aggressive competitors.

The episode that Akhtar reminisced was about the 2010 Asia Cup. Harbhajan had then won the game for India by slamming a six against Pakistan. In the match, the Indian tailender also had an altercation with Akhtar.

Akhtar said that after the completion of the game, he went into the hotel to fight with Harbhajan. The paceman stated how Harbhajan could behave in such a manner as he is a Punjabi, and they share a similar culture.

“I went looking for Harbhajan Singh in the hotel room to fight with him. He eats with us, roams around with us in Lahore, culture is similar to us, he is a Punjabi brother, and yet he will misbehave with us?” said Akhtar in a video interview on Helo app.

“I thought I would go and fight with him in the hotel room. He knew that Shoaib was coming. But I couldn’t find him. I calmed down the next day, and he had also apologised,” the 44-year-old added.

In the past, Harbhajan had revealed that Akhtar did threaten to come to his hotel room for a fight. He also said that the Pakistani pacer had once bashed him and Yuvraj Singh.

“Shoaib once threatened me he would come to my room and beat me. I told him ‘come, let’s see who beats whom.’ I was really scared. He is a great hulk. He once bashed me and Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh) inside a room. Since he was heavy, it was difficult to catch him,” Harbhajan had said.

TAGS:

CATEGORY: Harbhajan Singh India Pakistan Shoaib Akhtar

For latest cricket news and updates, subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter.

About the Author:
Akshat is the Sr. Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Akshat has honed his skills over 6 years, working with various media outlets, publications, and organizations to deliver high-quality content that informs, educates, and entertains audiences. He is just another cricket fan who’s grown up watching the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Cricket runs in his veins. Cover drive is his favorite sight, and a ball meeting the middle of the bat is his favorite sound. You can write to him at akshat.gaur@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin.