When Irfan Pathan Made Javed Miandad Eat His Words With Hattrick

image-lm1tcdpiIrfan Pathan celebrates his hattrick vs Pakistan (Twitter)

Anticipation has gripped the cricketing world as India and Pakistan lock horns with each other in Asia Cup 2023. Notably, this ODI is of particular significance, marking their first such encounter since World Cup 2019.

Irfan Pathan revealed how he silenced Javed Miandad's jibe

Although political tensions have paused bilateral series since 2012-13, the teams have met in continental and global tournaments with memorable clashes in the T20 World Cups of 2021 and 2022.

The golden days of frequent bilateral series may have faded, but the tales of their spirited encounters live on. On the Star Sports pre-match show, former cricketers Irfan Pathan of India and Waqar Younis of Pakistan recalled some unforgettable moments from the past.

Among the stories was Javed Miandad's 2004 comment suggesting that bowlers of Pathan's calibre were dime-a-dozen in Pakistan. This remark had stirred the sentiments of many an Indian fan.

“The great Javed Miandad had said something about me. He said, ‘bowlers like Irfan are found in every street of Pakistan,” said Pathan.

The former Indian all-rounder further highlighted that his subsequent performances in Pakistan changed Miandad’s perspective. Pathan pointed towards the respect he garnered, especially post Miandad's comments as he showcased his brilliance on Pakistan's home turf.

“But how it actually panned out, and how it actually gave respect to me when I did well there… I feel that was pretty special,” added the former southpaw.


For the unversed, Pathan had bagged a memorable hat-trick in the Karachi Test in 2006 where he single-handedly dismantled the top order, claiming Salman Butt, Younis Khan, and Mohammad Yousuf.

Meanwhile, as the Asia Cup 2023 unfolds, Pakistan enters with a strong momentum, fresh off a dominant 238-run victory over Nepal. Meanwhile, India, leaving no stone unturned in their preparations, has been hard at work, wrapping up a comprehensive five-day training camp in Alur before landing in Sri Lanka.