5 Times when pre-match sledging backfired spectacularly in Cricket

#5 Javed Miandad's jibe at Irfan Pathan

Pathan reacts after taking one of the wickets during his hattrick

India's tour to Pakistan in 2006 was a hugely anticipated affair. India had finally managed to win in Pakistan, the last time they had toured. Pakistan sought redemption and they had a strong squad at their disposal.

During a pre-series show, Pakistan great Javed Miandad was asked to rate India's bowling, especially swing sensation Irfan Pathan, who just 4 months before had returned from a Zimbabwe tour with 21 wickets in 2 matches. Miandad was unsparing and had rather harsh words for the 22-year-old pacer from Baroda :

"Your Irfan Pathans are in every gully and mohalla(side streets) of Pakistan. We don't even bother to look at them."

This comment wasn't received well by fans across the border, and they now waited for Pathan to answer Miandad in his own style.

Pathan regularly troubled the Pakistani top order batsmen in the first two tests but didn't have too many wickets to show for it. But in the third Test, Irfan Pathan had the Pakistani top order dancing to his tune, and bagged a hat-trick in the very first over of the match, becoming the only bowler to do so in test cricket. Irfan dismissed Salman Butt and Pakistani greats Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, through a stunning exhibition of accurate swing bowling.

India went on to lose the match, but not before Irfan Pathan had answered his critics in style. He was, after all, no ordinary bowler.