Shoaib Akhtar on Muttiah Muralithara | Shoaib Akhtar named Muttiah Muralitharan as the toughest batsman

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was known for his sharp bowling. His dangerous bouncers and yorkers used to frighten even the bountiful batsmen. Many times the batsmen did not understand at all after their balls fell on the pitch. He bowled against legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara. However, Akhtar says that he found Muttiah Muralitharan the most difficult to bowl to. The legendary Sri Lankan spinner Muralitharan mostly batted at number 11.

‘Akhtar don’t throw bouncer or else I will die’

Shoaib Akhtar told Sportskeeda, ‘Muttiya Muralitharan was the most difficult to bowl. I’m not joking. He used to request me not to kill him. Used to say that if my bouncer hit him, he would die. Muralitharan used to say that I should bowl ahead and he will give his wicket. However, whenever I would bowl ahead, he would hit hard shots and tell me that it was a mistake. Let us inform that Muralitharan, the highest wicket-taker in international cricket, scored 1261 runs and 674 runs in 133 Tests and 350 ODIs respectively.

Akhtar wants to get these batsmen out

It has been a long time since Shoaib Akhtar left international cricket, but if the former bowler had got a chance to bowl again, he would have liked to get three players out. Actually, Akhtar was asked which batsman of the current era he would like to get out? In response, Akhtar named Virat Kohli, Babar Azam and England all-rounder Ben Stokes. Let us tell that Akhtar, one of the great fast bowlers, started his international career in 1997 against the West Indies at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Akhtar, popularly known as the Rawalpindi Express, played 46 Tests, 163 ODIs and 15 for Pakistan.