Bhajji’s claims laughed off by the great fast bowler.
By Dileep Thekkethil
Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has come out with a controversial revelation. This time, the Indian bowler has claimed that he along with his buddy and teammate Yuvraj Singh were beaten up by former Pakistani pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar in a hotel room in Pakistan.
According to Harbhajan, the rivalry between the two teams -India and Pakistan – are not limited to on-field sledging. He described one such incident when Shoaib Aktar took the duo into a hotel room in Pakistan and abused them.
“Shoaib abused me a lot. He used to sit with us, ate with us. Since he was too close to us, maybe he used to take us for granted.
“Shoaib once threatened me he would come to my room and beat me. I told him to 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,” said the Indian off-spinner who is rumored as thinking about retirement from international cricket.
When asked about the revelation made by the Indian off-spinner, the former Pakistani pace bowler, better known as ‘Rawalpindi Express’ for the pace at which he bowls, laughed it off saying that it was just one of those light moments and there was nothing serious.
“I think he has made a big deal of it. Yes it did happen during 2004 when we were playing a Test in Rawalpindi. But it was nothing serious and all fun,” Akhtar clarified.
Aktar added that while he was playing with Yuvraj and Harbhajan they were so young that he saw them as his younger brothers.
“Basically we were horsing around and doing some arm wrestling and that is all but no Bhajji and Yuvi are my younger brothers no question of beating them up,” Akhtar said.
Harbhajan opened his mind during a television show but his statement was soon taken up by Pakistani media.
Akhtar also said that the on-field rivalry has never breached into his personal relationships with sports stars, including Harbhajan and Yuvraj.
“They got along well with me and used to come to my room and have dinner together. Yuvi wanted to go for sightseeing in Islamabad. We have been good friends so how can I beat them,” he added.
Confirming the incident, former Pakistan cricket team captain Inzamam Ul-Haq said, “But Shoaib was always very muscular and strong and even hugging him or shaking hands with him could be painful for other players.”