Shoaib Malik opens up on how Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra used to be potent threat for Pakistan

The cricket matches between India and Pakistan are always filled with a lot of thrill and excitement. There is a different intensity on and off the cricket field when the two arch-rivals square off against each other. Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik opened up on the Indian bowlers who were easy and difficult to bat against.

Malik revealed that he found it easy to bat against India’s decorated all-rounder Irfan Pathan and had a decent average. Elaborating on the reason behind the same, Malik explained that he finds it easier to tackle inswingers and that was the major delivery of Pathan. Irfan featured in 29 Tests and 120 One Day Internationals for India scoring 1105 and 1544 runs respectively. The left-hander also picked 100 Test wickets and 173 ODI scalps at an economy rate of 3.28 and 5.26 respectively.

However, Irfan didn’t have much success against Malik as the former skipper averaged 89.50 against Pathan. While speaking in an interview with Cricwick, Shoaib revealed, “My average against Irfan Pathan is good because I play the inswing well. At that time, Irfan did not bowl out-swingers. He added it to his arsenal later, but early in his career, he majorly bowled in-swinging deliveries. So, I knew he would bowl an in-swinger, and I prepared myself accordingly.”

Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra took many wickets against Pakistan: Shoaib Malik 

Further in the interaction, Shoaib asserted that he was troubled a lot by India’s ace pacers including the likes of Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan. Detailing his opinion on why Nehra and Zaheer were successful against him, Malik added that both the speedsters targeted the edge of the bat.

“Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra targeted the edges of the bat. Hence, they took many wickets against Pakistan. If a bowler targets the edge, he will be more successful. I feel my ability to play the in-swinging deliveries helped me do well against Irfan,” Shoaib added.

In his cricket career, Shoaib represented Pakistan in 35 Test matches and 287 One Day Internationals scoring 1898 and 7534 runs respectively. The 39-year-old also picked 32 Test wickets and 158 ODI wickets at an economy rate of 3.36 and 4.66 respectively.