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    "title": "Afridi, not Sehwag, redefined opening in Test cricket, says Wasim Akram",
    "lang": "en",
    "series": "1",
    "cup_year": "2020",
    "article_type": "General",
    "excerpt": "Lahore, March 30:\u00a0\u00a0Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram believes it was Shahid Afridi and not Virender Sehwag who redefined the concept of opening the batting in Test cricket. \"In Test cricket, Sehwa",
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    "editor1": "<p><strong>Lahore, March 30:&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram believes it was Shahid Afridi and not Virender Sehwag who redefined the concept of opening the batting in Test cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&quot;In Test cricket, Sehwag came later but in 1999-2000 Shahid Afridi changed the mindset of opening in Test cricket. Even if I was the bowler, I would know that I can get him out but also know that he can hit me for boundaries. He used to hit lose deliveries for sixes at will,&quot; said Akram while chatting with Afridi on a YouTube chat show.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Many in the cricket fraternity, including the likes of David Warner, believe that it was Sehwag who started for bowlers having a difficult time at the start of a Test match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Akram revealed that Afridi, who made his debut as an opener in Test cricket against Australia in 1998, was not supposed to be a part of that Pakistan side which toured India in 1999-2000 where the swashbuckling all-rounder made his name as a Test batsman.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Afridi scored his maiden Test century in the first Test at Chennai to help Pakistan take a 1-0 lead in the series which visitors went on to win 2-1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&quot;I called Imran Khan before the tour selection. I told him &lsquo;skipper I want to take Shahid Afridi on tour but a few selectors were against it. He told me &lsquo;You should definitely take him, he will win a one-two Test matches and make him open the batting&#39;,&quot; said the former left-arm pacer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&quot;I generally discussed a lot with Imran, sometimes before the tour, sometimes during the tour and his suggestions always came in handy,&quot; he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&quot;What a knock it was on that Chennai track. Afridi used to dance down the track and hit (Anil) Kumble and (Suni) Joshi for sixes,&quot; Akram said recalling the 141-run knock played by Afridi in the Chennai Test.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Afridi, however, could not establish himself as a regular Test player as he managed to play just 27 Tests for Pakistan and scored just five hundreds.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Sehwag, on the other hand, represented India in 104 Test matches and scored 23 centuries, including 2 triple hundreds.<\/p>\r\n",
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    "created": "2020-03-30 12:04:49",
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