• Home
• /
• Sports
• /
• Local Sports

Cricket icons steal show

Dubai - Botham, Warne, Akram and Kapil took the motley crowd down memory lane as they shared some of their anecdotes

Bonhomie and nostalgia filled the room of the Cove Beach Club at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel on Tuesday as four of cricket's icons - Ian Botham, Shane Warne, Wasim Akram and Kapil Dev - shared the stage during a talk show to take the motley crowd down memory lane as they shared some of their anecdotes during their playing days, while at the same time, also taking a dig at each other in a light-hearted banter.
It was an evening to remember for the fans who went on clicking selfies with the legends and also posed a few questions during this meet-and-greet event organised by RAK Bank to introduce their RAKelite Premium Banking scheme.
We share some of the moments that were relived at the event.
Warne on the 1999 World Cup: It was a wonderful tournament. We had to win 7 to 8 games in a row to make the final as we had started the tournament badly losing to Pakistan and some other teams but eventually we won the tournament by beating Pakistan this time in the final. However, the semifinal against South Africa stands out for me. It was a wonderful one-day game as it had drama, tension, passion, you name it.
For the record: The match is remembered for the disastrous run-out involving Allan Donald and Lance Klusener which ended the game in Australia's favour who went onto win by five wickets and two balls to spare.
On his first wicket in Tests: Obviously it was that of Ravi Shastri's. I was being smashed around and I managed to get his wicket after he belted 200 something. But the prized scalp of my Test career would be that of Mike Gatting during my first Ashes series in 1993. It was a special ball that changed my life. I would also put Viv Richards' wicket as top priority and later in my career it was Lara and Sachin's wickets.
 Kapil on the 1983 World Cup: At first, we never thought we could reach the final but once we reached the semifinal and beat Australia, more than myself, the whole team started to believe in themselves that nobody can stop us now. For the record India beat West Indies in the final to lift the Cup.
On his innings of 175 not out against Zimbabwe: There are certain days in your life that God has made for you and on that day I couldn't have done anything wrong.
On his prized wicket: I think all wickets are important. It's more to do with the batsman and how he plays rather than how the bowler has bowled. When I was young I used to swing the ball so much that I forgot how to bowl straight. Having said that, I would say Viv Richards' wicket was, and will  always, remain a prized one.
On playing under pressure: The only time I felt pressure was playing against Pakistan in Sharjah. That was the only place we could not beat them. Pakistan during my time played good and ruthless cricket unlike us. They were not technically sound but were ruthless.
 Akram on the 1992 World Cup: Winning the World Cup for every sportsperson is the ultimate. I remember when we started our campaign we had gone three weeks before to Australia to acclimatise and we lost every practice game. We lost the first game of the World Cup against West Indies by 10 wickets and in the second against England we were all out for 74. To our good luck it rained and there was no result. Somehow Imran Khan was positive all the way of us winning the World Cup and as a 23-year-old then I asked him how? But once we started winning - the first against Sri Lanka - we didn't look back after that.
His prized wicket: If I had to pick one prized wicket that would be of Rahul Dravid in the Chennai Test. I bowled a couple of inswingers and trapped him LBW but he was given not out. Then next delivery I bowled an outswinger which was pitched on the leg side but clipped his off stump. Also I would rate Viv Richard's wicket very high although I didn't play him much and later it was Lara's and Sachin's wickets that I always wanted.
On playing under pressure: I think there is a lot of pressure when it's an India-Pakistan match as it's watched by billions of people, including your grandmother, your cook, the person on the street. Every India-Pakistan match is a closely-fought one. I don't think there were many one-sided matches.
On Test matches: It's the ultimate.  
Botham sitting alongside the World Cup winners, said, "I'm the odd man out here," to a round of applause as England are yet to win a 50-over World Cup. "Well one day England will win," he added sarcastically.
"I have played in a few finals," he said. Botham, nicknamed 'Beefy', praised Akram for his three-wicket burst which turned the 1992 final in Pakistan's favour and deprived Botham the Holy Grail. "It was destined to be, I suppose," he chuckled.
Any special feeling: Beating Australia in their backyard is a special, special feeling.
About Tests cricket: I think it needs to be played in a positive way. The days of 1.5 and 2 runs per over are long gone. Australia have set a new benchmark by scoring 3 ½ to 4 runs an over. That's how Test cricket has to be played - aggressively.
clareto@khaleejtimes.com