Cricketing antics: Memorable on-field sledges involving Pakistanis

The Express Tribune takes a look at some interesting on-field incidents

Cricket is a gentleman's game enriched with several timeless traditions which aim to keep the essence of the game intact. 

However, one of the less gentlemanly, though enduring, practice in the sport has been of sledging, that is, making offensive remarks to the opponent in order to break their concentration and to provoke them to perform poorly.

Here The Express Tribune will recount some of the most memorable and entertaining sledges in Pakistan cricket history.

1. Aamir Sohail vs Venkatesh Prasad

In the quarter-final of the 1996 World Cup Pakistan faced traditional rivals, India. Chasing India's score of 287-8, Pakistan were in a comfortable position as opener Aamir Sohail and Saeed Anwar went about tearing the Indian bowling attack.

Aamir seemed to be in good form as he charged down the track and struck Prasad's ball over the off-side.

High on confidence, Aamir then pointed his bat to the area where the bowl had disappeared and then towards Prasad, revealing the next intended target of Indian bowler's ball to him.

Prasad, however, had other plans. As Aamir attempted to repeat the previous shot, he exposed his stumps and as a result, Prasad uprooted his off-stump.



2. Merv Hughes vs Javed Miandad

The inimitable Australian Merv Hughes knows more about sledging than most people, so he was more than a little miffed to be on the receiving end of one in the 1991 Adelaide Test against Pakistan.

Hughes and Miandad almost came to blows after the audacious Pakistani batsman called Merv a "fat bus conductor."

However, revenge was quick and sweet for Merv, who a few deliveries later bowled out Miandad and as the batsman walked past him, Merv could not resist shouting "Tickets, please!"

3. Sachin Tendulkar vs Abdul Qadir

The year was 1989, and Sachin had recently made his debut in Pakistan.

As the precocious Sachin sent the then young leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed hiding for cover by hitting two sixes in his over, Mushtaq's mentor, Abdul Qadir made an entry.  The legendary Qadir challenged Sachin by saying "Bachchon ko kyon mar rahe ho? Hamein bhi maar kay dikhao." (Why don't you leave him and try and hit me instead?)

Sachin, who since an early age had decided to let his bat do the talking, silently accepted Qadir's challenge and hit four sixes in the spinner's over.

PHOTO: AFP

The over read: 6, 0, 4, 6, 6, 6.

4. Sir Ian Botham vs Aamir Sohail

In the 1980’s one of the finest all-rounders to ever grace the cricket pitch, Botham returned early from a tour of Pakistan and on a radio show joked "Pakistan is the sort of country to send your mother-in-law to.”

Needless to say, this statement did not sit well with Pakistanis. And when Pakistan defeated England in the 1992 World Cup Final, Aamir told Botham, "Why don’t you send your mother-in-law out to play, she cannot do much worse.”

5. Inzamamul Haq vs Indian spectator

An incident which enraged the characteristically calm Inzamam was while Pakistan was playing India in Canada in 1997. An Indian spectator called out to Inzamam from the stand, "Mota Aaloo" (Fat potato)

Inzamam was so upset by the sledge that he refused to resume the game and spent a good ten minutes quarreling with the spectator.

Inzamamul Haq is restrained by security officials. PHOTO COURTESY: ESPNCRICINFO

6. Javed Miandad vs Dilip Doshi

In a Test match at Bangalore, Miandad was batting against India's Dilip Doshi. Even though Miandad had tried, he was unable hit Doshi's ball for a couple of runs.

Suddenly in the middle of a fresh over, Mianded started asking Doshi his hotel room number.

This went on every other ball and even when Miandad was at the non-striker's end, he kept on pestering Doshi.

After some time of successfully ignoring Miandad, Doshi exasperatedly asked him why he was after his room number, to which Miandad replied, "because I want to hit a six in your room."

Miandad's efforts to provoke worked on this particular occasion as Doshi bowled a short ball which the batsman gleefully pulled for a boundary.

8. Virender Sehwag vs Shoaib Akhtar

Speaking at an awards show in 2010, Sehwag revealed a sledging incident between him and Pakistan fast-bowler Shoaib. Sehwag was at the receiving end of Shoaib's bouncers, while Sachin wat at the non-strikers end.

Shoaib kept on provoking Sehwag by saying, "Hook maar ke dekha" (Why don't you try to hook me?) as he kept on bowling bouncers to him.

Eventually Sehwag retaliated by saying, “Woh tera baap khara hai non-striker end pe, usko bol woh maarke dikhayega” (That's your daddy standing on the other end, why don't you try this with him?)

Shoaib took the bait and in the next over, when Sachin was on strike, he delivered the short ball once again and Sachin punished it accordingly by hitting it for a six.

A satisfied Sehwag said to Akhtar “Beta beta hota hai, baap baap hota hai” which means “Father is a father, and son’s a son.”

Reportedly, Shoaib later replied to this story told by Sehwag by saying that Tendulkar has never hit him for a six in Tests. Sachin actually never hit a six in that whole Test match.

8. Javed Miandad vs Kiran More

In cricket World Cup 1992, Pakistan and India clashed once again, this time at Sydney.

Legendary batsman Javed Miandad was batting and Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More was making needless appeals to disturb Miandad's concentration.

Miandad requested the Indian wicketkeeper to stay silent. More disregarded Miandad’s request.

When Miandad's complaint to the umpire also did not work, he decided to take matters in his own hands.

After a sharp run out chance, where Miandad barely survived, the cheeky batsman started jumping up and down, face distorted imitating More’s appealing

After Miandad’s antic, the wicketkeeper stopped making pointless appeals.



9. Javed Miandad vs Dennis Lillee

The year was 1981 and Pakistan had arrived in Perth to play Tests against Australia.

In the first Test, Pakistan were 27 for 2 when captain Miandad came out to crease. As Lillee bowled at an increasingly fast pace, tempers flared and an incident which challenged the 'gentlemanly' nature of cricket was witnessed.

Miandad turned Lillee behind square for a single, and in completing an easy run he collided with the bowler. Eyewitnesses state that Lillee was to blame as he had deliberately moved into the batsman's path.

What followed next almost led to bloodshed. Lillee, on his way back kicked Miandad, who holding the bat like a spear rushed towards Lillee, and had umpire Tony Crafter not come in the way, one never knows what would have happened.

See the entire episode here:



10. Wahab Riaz vs Shane Watson

One of the most recent and enthralling incidents to take place between a Pakistani and an international player is the sledging which occurred between Watson and Wahab in the ICC World Cup this year.

From short balls, to verbal exchanges and blowing kisses, this exchange has it all.

“It was pretty nasty,” said Watson, who survived a barrage of short balls to make an unbeaten 64 including the winning runs.

“I had a lot of luck to get through that spell. he gave it everything.”