Virender Sehwag praises Akram for his sportsmanship during Kumble's 10-74

Mumbai: This day in 1997, current India coach Anil Kumble became only the second bowler in cricket history after Jim Laker to take 10 wickets in a Test innings. The fact that the India bowler achieved the rare feat against arch-rivals Pakistan made the achievement even more special.

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Wasim Akram, who was with the last wicket to fall revealed years later that Waqar Younis who was in the middle with Akram on the fateful day had a different plan to deny Kumble a perfect-10.

“Kumble had got nine wickets and me and Waqar (Younis) were batting in the crease. Waqar came to me and said ‘How about getting run out?’ so that Kumble does not get his 10th wicket,’ Akram had recalled.

“I said ‘You can’t deny him the feat if he is destined for it. But I can assure you that I’m not going to give my wicket to Kumble’,” Akram had said, before adding, “But subsequently it was me who gifted my wicket to Kumble.”

Virender Sehwag took to Twitter on Tuesday to praise Akram for not allowing Younis to get run-out and spoil Kumble’s party. Sehwag wrote, “Kismat ke aage ,all saazish fail. Well done Wasim bhai. What a day it was at the Kotla by Anil bhai.”