Ex-Indian batsman Mohammad Kaif’ uncovered the cause of the heat between the former Pak skipper Wasim Akram and the flamboyant All-rounder Abdul Razzaq in the Ind vs Pak match of World Cup 2003. One of the most classic battles between India & Pakistan was played on the afternoon of March1 at the Centurion cricket stadium. Batting first Pakistan set the target of 274-runs, inducting the stylish ton of 101(126) by the veteran opener Saeed Anwar. As India came down to chase the target, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar showed his class by smacking the knock of 98(75) in a highly pressured game. Along with him Mohammad Kaif also gave a crucial contribution of 35(60), resulting in the 100+ partnership between the both for 3rd wicket.
But on the ball of Wasim Akram the fielder Abdul Razzaq had dropped a sitter catch in the 16th over as he was standing so wide from the actual mid-off position. That left Akram astonished and he got fierced with his words on the culprit Razzaq. Thus, Mohammad Kaif in the general discourse with his counterpart Shoaib Akhtar on Sportskeeda revealed this real reason of heat by saying, “The atmosphere of that India-Pakistan match was just something else. The fans had come in great numbers to watch enthralling cricket. If Razzaq had taken Tendulkar’s catch at mid-off, the match could have been very tight. I remember Wasim Akram being angry at him for standing so far up.
“He was literally standing next to the bowler instead of proper mid-off”.
Later Kaif added that, “Sachin was batting very well. My role was to support him and stay with him. I was told to build a partnership with Sachin and, if he is attacking, just stay there. I fulfilled that role,” he further said”.
