He may have smashed me all over the park: Shoaib Akhtar extends wishes to Vivian Richards on his birthday

It is fair to say that Sir Issac Vivian Richards is the original Master Blaster when it comes to batsmanship. Before the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Sanath Jayasuriya, Virender Sehwag, Chris Gayle, and the modern T20I hitters in Andre Russell, took over the world with their whirlwind hitting talent, it was the cool-and-calm Richards, who showed the world that in an era where putting a prize on your wicket was a norm, that one can put the pressure on the opposition by taking the attack to them.

The legendary West Indian swashbuckler celebrated his 68th birthday on Saturday and wishes have galore for the champion batsman from all around the world. Joining the bandwagon is a former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

Akhtar took to Twitter to wish Richards on his 68th birthday. The Rawalpindi Express further stated that he is confused about whether he should regret that he didn’t get to bowl to the great man during his career or rejoice that he didn’t have to square-off against the swashbuckler, who he thinks, would have carted the former bolter all around the park.

Shoaib Akhtar posts birthday wishes for Viv Richards

“Happy Birthday to @ivivianrichards. What a legend of the game. I am confused between regretting and not regretting that I couldn’t play against him. Haha. It would have been an honour to play against him, but he may have smashed me all over the park as well.”

Happy Birthday to @ivivianrichards . What a legend of the game. I am confused between regretting and not regretting that i couldn't play against him. Haha
Would have been an honor to play against him, but he may have smashed me all over the park as well. 😂😂#VivianRichards

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) March 7, 2020

Ironically, Akhtar’s comments come a day prior to the ninth anniversary of his last international game for Pakistan back in 2011 against New Zealand. It was a league match of the 2011 World Cup between Pakistan and New Zealand where another birthday boy in the form of Ross Taylor, decided to have some fun at the expense of the Pakistanis and especially Akhtar.

That said, Taylor got plenty of birthday presents from wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who dropped him- not once, but twice- off Akhtar’s bowling. And the Kiwi middle-order batsman took full advantage of the reprieves and shellacked Akhtar and the Pakistani bowling attack to the tune of 131 off 124 balls- an innings that included eight fours and seven sixes.

Pakistan eventually lost the game and Akhtar was soon dropped from the all-important semi-final against India, post which he announced his retirement.