Forks in hand, Harbhajan Singh and Muhammad Yousuf were ready to attack each other in 2003

[Kool_SRG]

Harbhajan Singh admitted that it got so ugly at that time that it required intervention from legendary Wasim Akram, Rahul Dravid and Javagal Srinath to separate them.

Call it pressure of high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan that once Harbhajan Singh and Mohammed Yousuf were ready to tear into each other with forks in their hands during the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

The Indian off-spinner laughed about the incident, which happened 16 years back at Centurion, but admitted that it got so ugly at that time that it required intervention from legendary Wasim Akram, Rahul Dravid and Javagal Srinath to separate them.

The match will forever be remembered for Sachin Tendulkar’s epic 98 but it also had two angry protagonists in action, though, off the field. Since Pakistan made 270 plus, considered a good score at that time, there was a bit of pressure on India before the chase started.

So what exactly happened? “It started with a joke but then got ugly. I was dropped for that game and Anil bhai (Kumble) was playing because team management felt he was a better choice keeping in mind his good record against Pakistan. I was a bit down and it can happen when you aren’t in the XI,” Harbhajan told PTI during a chat.

 

“During the lunch time, I was sitting at one table and Yousuf and Shoaib Akhtar were at the other table right across in the common area.

“We both speak Punjabi and suddenly while we were pulling each other’s legs he first made a personal comment and then remarked about my religion,” said Harbhajan.

“I gave him a fitting reply. Before anyone realised we both had fork in our hands and got up from our chairs ready to attack each other,” he laughed.

But things weren’t as humorous when it happened.

“Rahul (Dravid) and Sri (Javagal Srinath) stopped me while Wasim bhai and Saeed bhai took Yousuf away. The seniors in both sides were irritated and we were told that this is not the right behaviour.”

“It’s 16 years now. Now when I meet Yousuf, we both have a good laugh about it.” Harbhajan, one of the finest spinners the country has seen, further said that pressure was immense during the 2011 World Cup semi-final. He had played a big role in Mohali with crucial breakthroughs.

 

“That match was different. People thought now is the time Law of Averages will catch up. Mohali is my home ground and everyone wanted us to just win, fans, the media, the hype was insane,” he recalled. Indian cricketers have always shared a cordial relationship with their Pakistani counterparts as Shahid Afridi mentioned in his book.

Harbhajan said indeed there are friendships off the field but on the field it’s the rivalry which drives the players from both the sides.

“I have good friendship with Shahid and Shoaib (Akhtar). We have hung out together, had meals. We spoke the same language, our preference of food, music lot of things are common. “But yes, once you cross that boundary rope, friendship does take a back seat,” he signed off.

[Kool_SRG]

    podicheyyalsindi...

 

@Kontekurradu    @JANASENA     @timmy    @perugu_vada    @Sucker

[Kool_SRG]

Keeping Jokes apart.... Md. Yusuf  (Yusuf Yohana) was a fantastic player lazy eligance...

[nizambadnarsingyadav]

90’s and early 2000’s were the most memorable days of cricket ...full of agreesive atttitude ..

ippudu ante bangladesh kuda easy ga 300 koduthundhi ..but india didnt have a 300 odi score until 1998 ...

 

wasim akram once told when kumble got the 10 wickets in the match it was waqar and wasim batting and waqar told wasim that one of us should get run out to avoid kumble having that record ...but wasim insisted we should rather play our game and let the game decide what ever will happen

Good times ...Good times

 

 

[Sucker]

4 minutes ago, nizambadnarsingyadav said:

90’s and early 2000’s were the most memorable days of cricket ...full of agreesive atttitude ..

ippudu ante bangladesh kuda easy ga 300 koduthundhi ..but india didnt have a 300 odi score until 1998 ...

 

wasim akram once told when kumble got the 10 wickets in the match it was waqar and wasim batting and waqar told wasim that one of us should get run out to avoid kumble having that record ...but wasim insisted we should rather play our game and let the game decide what ever will happen

Good times ...Good times

 

 

naku 2003 lo every match idea vundi yevadu yela aadadu yela gelicharu ani. ee world cup aithe asalu India first match yevaritho ante alochinchi cheppalsi vasthundi 

[Sucker]

16 minutes ago, Kool_SRG said:

    podicheyyalsindi...

 

@Kontekurradu    @JANASENA     @timmy    @perugu_vada    @Sucker

Religion ante telsu ga baa turbo batch baga aggressive podichesina aa Ganguly vuncle pakkaki theeskelli congrats cheppevademo 

[Kool_SRG]

4 minutes ago, nizambadnarsingyadav said:

90’s and early 2000’s were the most memorable days of cricket ...full of agreesive atttitude ..

ippudu ante bangladesh kuda easy ga 300 koduthundhi ..but india didnt have a 300 odi score until 1998 ...

 

wasim akram once told when kumble got the 10 wickets in the match it was waqar and wasim batting and waqar told wasim that one of us should get run out to avoid kumble having that record ...but wasim insisted we should rather play our game and let the game decide what ever will happen

Good times ...Good times

 

 

 

India got its first 300 plus score in ODI against Pak in 1996 bro.... Tendukar and Sidhu both got  centuries.

 

Still remember the match Md. Azharuddin last over lo Atha-ur-rahman ane fast bowler pitcha kottudu kodataadu,  Two 4s, Two 6s, Two 2s in that over...

Tony Greig was the commentator for that over

India won by game by some 30 runs or so...

 

[Sucker]

1 minute ago, Kool_SRG said:

 

India got its first 300 plus score in ODI against Pak in 1996 bro.... Tendukar and Sidhu both got  centuries.

 

Still remember the match Md. Azharuddin last over lo Atha-ur-rahman ane fast bowler pitcha kottudu kodataadu,  Two 4s, Two 6s, Two 2s in that over...

Tony Greig was the commentator for that over

India won by game by some 30 runs or so...

 

 baa nenu cricket chudatam start cheyyaledu appudu nenu appudu 6 years buddonni 

[Kool_SRG]

1 minute ago, Kool_SRG said:

Still remember the match Md. Azharuddin last over lo Atha-ur-rahman ane fast bowler pitcha kottudu kodataadu,  Two 4s, Two 6s, Two 2s in that over...

Over ayyaka kopam ga gesture kuda isthadu bat ni taduthu he was under pressure for many low scores in between at that time...

 

 

 

[Kool_SRG]

3 minutes ago, Sucker said:

 baa nenu cricket chudatam start cheyyaledu appudu nenu appudu 6 years buddonni 

[Sucker]

3 minutes ago, Kool_SRG said:

Over ayyaka kopam ga gesture kuda isthadu bat ni taduthu he was under pressure for many low scores in between at that time...

 

 

 

  Nee yavva ground yendi antha vundi 

[Idassamed]

25 minutes ago, Kool_SRG said:

Keeping Jokes apart.... Md. Yusuf  (Yusuf Yohana) was a fantastic player lazy eligance...

True. Manchi foot work unna player.

[JANASENA]

podichipadadobbalsindi Makade gaanni. 

[Kool_SRG]

Just now, Idassamed said:

True. Manchi foot work unna player.

+1

[Sucker]

Just now, Kool_SRG said:

nenu chusina first match Ganguly vuncle 183 vs Sl in world cup 99 baa. Nee yavva still gurthundi. Aa match chusi cricket ki vadiki ki pan ayipoya