'Akram couldn't beat Tendulkar's bat in 2003, means he couldn't bowl?' - Irfan Pathan's angry retort to journalist for jibe at Mohammed Shami

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan lambasted a journalist over his indirect jibe at Mohammed Shami, said in response to Pathan’s tweet praising the pacer. Pathan lavished high praises on Shami for his exceptional effort for his IPL team Gujarat Titans against the Lucknow Super Giants on March 28.

Shami, 31, delivered an inspiring new ball spell against the Super Giants, nipping out three batters inside the powerplay to set the tone for his team’s victory. He struck as early as the first ball of the game, inducing an edge of Super Giants’ skipper KL Rahul on a peach before cleaning up both Quinton de Kock and Manish Pandey cheaply in the succeeding overs.

The Super Giants were dented so badly by his relentless burst that despite quick-fire half-centuries from Deepak Hooda and youngster Ayush Badoni, they could recover to post only a par total of 158/6, which the Titans eventually chased down with five wickets and two balls to spare.

Shami’s Test-like bowling and probing lines and lengths with the white ball were enough to attract everyone’s attention, one of those being Pathan, who tweeted: “There are not many in World Cricket who uses new ball better than Mohammed shami!”.

Replying to his tweet on March 31, a journalist wrote: “THEY CAN’T PLAY HIM”, an apparent jibe at Shami, who went wicketless against Pakistan when India faced them at the T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE in October last year. Mincing no words, Pathan retorted: “In 2003 World Cup, Wasim Akram (Legend) couldn’t beat Sachin Tendulkar’s (Legend) bat. Does it mean he couldn’t bowl?? #sasteexperts”.

In 2003 World Cup, Wasim Akram (Legend) couldn't beat Sachin Tendulkar's (Legend) bat. Does it mean he couldn't bowl?? #sasteexperts

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 31, 2022

On that night, Shami returned with figures of 3.5-0-43-0 in a losing cause, as Virat Kohli’s men endured a 10-wicket drubbing at the hands of their arch-rivals to mark the end of their impeccable 12-0 streak against them at the World Cups. Notably, Shami was even targeted on social media on the basis of his faith following India’s historic loss.

In stark contrast to all that transpired under the night sky in Dubai against Pakistan, Shami was at the peak of his bowling prowess against Super Giants, as he walked back with the Player of the Match award for his 3/25.