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"Dimag se pagal hai...,": Munaf Patel's brutally honest take on Shoaib Akhtar

Arnav Chopra

Munaf Patel and Shoaib Akhtar (Source: @ICC/X.com)Munaf Patel and Shoaib Akhtar (Source: @ICC/X.com)

Former Indian World Cup 2011 winner Munaf Patel has praised former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar. Speaking on a podcast, Munaf praised Akhtar in a bizarre manner, but left no stone unturned with his high tribute for the legendary pacer.

Munaf Patel gets candid about Shoaib Akhtar on a podcast

One of the finest bowlers of the previous generation, Shoaib Akhtar was a deadly menace to face, especially in international cricket, as he was the fastest bowler in cricket history, having logged speeds of over 150 kilometres per hour multiple times during his career.

In a recent podcast on the Nakash Khan Show, former Indian 2011 World Cup winner Munaf Patel, speaking to the host, described Shoaib Akhtar in a manner that implied he was "crazy."

He put forth the fact that Akhtar, despite losing both his knees and having surgeries on both of them, still continued to bowl deliveries above 150 kmph for 15 long years, as he was quite difficult to face, even at the back end of his career.

"Shoaib Akhtar is crazy about his bowling. An Asian bowler who used to bowl at a speed of 150 km/h, he played from 1997 to 2011-12, meaning he bowled at a speed of 150 km/h for 14-15 years in Asian conditions. Both his knees are damaged, he's barely able to walk, yet he's running from outside the 30-yard circle, and only his madness can keep him going for 14 or 15 years," Munaf Patel said on The Nakash Khan Show in hindi.

Patel further mentioned that it was because of his madness that he continued to bowl like this, as it isn't easy, considering only someone who is insane would bowl like that.

Munaf believes no one can ever match Akhtar

Moreover, Munaf Patel still can't believe that anyone can bowl like that, especially in Asian conditions, where pitches aren't that supportive to pacers, as Akhtar demonstrated throughout his career, bowling 150 kilometres per hour on a regular basis.

"I can't believe anyone can bowl at his pace in Asian conditions. No one has ever come before, and no one will ever come. I guarantee that in our lifetime, no bowler who bowls at 150 km/h will play for 15 years. There's no chance because that guy is mentally insane (Dimag se pagal hai vo)," he further added.

The Indian pacer kept mentioning the word "insane" and called Shoaib Akhtar unstable, as his love for cricket kept him in the loop to bowl deliveries that most players in his generation wouldn't be able to deliver for that long a period.

"If you tell him that training like this will maintain his strength, he'll go to any lengths. That passion, that madness, was there in him. Only he could do it; no one else could. I can guarantee that both his knees are damaged and his ball speed is 155, and no one else can do it," he concluded.

He said that his longevity can not be matched by anyone, even today or tomorrow, as no one can reach the 150 kmph mark on a regular basis. This is also a fact, as both his knees are damaged, but he still managed to keep the momentum high.

Munaf Patel is currently the bowling coach at Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), while Shoaib Akhtar appears on chat shows during matches on local television programs.