“Doesn’t Remember His Age And My Records” Gautam Gambhir tells Shahid Afridi
NEW DELHI : Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir and former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi often engage in heated wars of words on social media. On Saturday, Gautam Gambhir took to Twitter and wrote that Shahid Afridi does not remember his own age so how can he remember his opponent’s records.
“Someone who doesn’t remember his age how will he remember my records! ok. Shahid Afridi let me remind you one: 2007 T20 WC final, Ind vs Pak Gambhir 75 off 54 balls vs Afridi 0 off 1 ball. Most important: We won the Cup. And yes, I’ve attitude towards liars, traitors & opportunists,” Gambhir tweeted on Saturday.
“(Gautam Gambhir) and his attitude problem. He, who has no personality. He, who is barely a character in the great scheme of cricket. He has no great records, just a lot of attitude. He behaves like he’s a cross between Don Bradman and James Bond,” Afridi had said in the book.
Gambhir was apparently responding to a passage from Shahid Afridi’s autobiography ‘Game Changer’. During Pakistan’s tour of India in 2007, Gambhir and Afridi’s on-field spat took the centre stage during the third ODI that the hosts won by 46 runs.
The ODI game in Kanpur saw Gambhir and Afridi hurl abuses at each other. Gambhir was trying to take a run off Afridi’s bowling but the two cricketers collided mid-pitch that sparked a heated altercation. Umpire Ian Gould had to intervene as both Gambhir and Afridi refused to back off.
However, Gambhir’s tweet mentioned his fluent 75 that paved the way for a competitive total which India defended against Pakistan in the final of the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. Gambhir had smashed 75 off 54 balls, a knock that was studded with eight fours and a couple of sixes, to help India post 157/5 from their 20 overs.
The war of words between the two former cricketers, who have had a number of run-ins on the pitch during their playing days, started with Afridi’s remarks on Gambhir in the book becoming public before its launch.
The latest quote to have emerged says that Gambhir is “barely a character in the great scheme of cricket” and he “behaves like he’s a cross between Don Bradman and James Bond.” Afridi also says that Gambhir “has no great records.”
(With Agency Inputs ).
