‘You guys cheat’: Pathan reveals Sangakkara clash that turned ‘personal’
Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan recounts a heated personal confrontation with Sri Lankan player Kumar Sangakkara during a 2005 Test match. The argument, which began over a dispute regarding the match ball, eventually led to the two becoming friends after playing together in the IPL.
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This human-interest story provides insight into the high-pressure environment of international cricket and the evolution of professional relationships between rivals.
NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has revisited a little-known heated exchange with Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara during the 2005 Test in Delhi, revealing how an argument over a changed ball escalated into personal sledging before the two eventually put the incident behind them and became friends.Pathan was at the centre of a memorable India innings at the Feroz Shah Kotla, scoring 93 after being sent up the order. But alongside his attacking knock, which included two sixes off Muttiah Muralitharan, came a confrontation with Sangakkara that the former India all-rounder remembered years later.Speaking on JioHotstar's ‘Cheeky Singles’ programme, Pathan explained that the tension had its roots in the Sri Lankan team's frustration over the ball used during their innings.‘You guys cheat’: How the argument started“There was a Test match in Delhi. I opened and made 93.
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