Waqar Younis Reveals Not Being Called 'Aaloo' But Abuse Directed At India Star's Wife Made Inzamam-ul-Haq Attack Fan With Bat

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq going into the crowd and confronting a fan in the 1997 Sahara Cup is one of the most shocking incidents that has taken place the gentlemen’s game. The incident took place when India and Pakistan were playing in Toronto.

Few comments from one of the spectators did not go down well with Inzamam-ul-Haq and he decided to respond in a manner which left everyone shell-shocked. He had entered the crowd and got into a scuffle with a spectator of Indian origin. After being escorted back to the ground, the former cricketer grabbed a bat and went after the spectator again before things were brought under control.

What exactly was said to the batsman is still a matter of debate. Pakistani news outlet The Dawn had reported that eyewitnesses said the supporters taunted Inzamam-ul-Haq over his physique.

O mote, sidha khara ho [O fatso, stand straight], mota aaloo, sara aaloo [fat potato, rotten potato] – These were some of the comments directed at the Pakistan great. Well, former Pakistan captain and Inzamam-ul-Haq’s ex-teammate Waqar Younis has said there was more to the infamous story than the former batsman “aaloo”.

Waqar Younis has revealed that his former teammate lost his cool after hearing some inappropriate comments directed towards former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin’s wife. Waqar said that Inzamam was standing up for Azharuddin because of which the former batsman decided to take matters into his own hands.

“Yes, there was someone calling him ‘aaloo’. But also, what exactly happened [was that] there was someone in the crowd who was not very good to Azharuddin’s wife – I think they were just talking some rubbish – and Inzi being Inzi, he didn’t really like it. And as I was mentioning, the friendship off the field between these two teams’ players was outstanding, it was amazing, they had a lot of respect for each other,” Waqar said on ‘The Greatest Rivalry’ podcast.

Recalling the incident, the bowling great further revealed the details of the same. Inzamam, who usually used to field in the slips, Waqar said, had been paying attention to the chants and asked permission to change his fielding position. Things escalated though when he asked the 12th man to get a bat and that is where Waqar and the rest of the Pakistan team realised what was going on.

“You know we used to play hard on the field, but when it comes to the friendship, we used to really look out for each-others’ back.

“And what happened [was] because someone was really being rude to Azza’s wife and Inzi just, I don’t know what happened to be very honest, he just decided, he asked, I think Saleem Malik was captain [Ramiz Raja was the Pakistan skipper], he asked Saleem to move him to that fine-leg third-man region, and that’s where he went. And he just asked for the 12th man to bring the bat, and he just gave it to him, and he just ran up the stairs in the scaffolding and brought it down,” he recalled.

Inzamam was banned for two ODIs for the incident. Waqar, however, said that the incident made it clear how India and Pakistan’s players had each other’s back despite sharing the fiercest of rivalries on the field.

“Inzi had to suffer, Inzi had to apologise and they went to court for that particular incident and Azhar had to come out, which was very nice of Azharuddin, who had to come out and talk to that Indian guy, the guy was Indian I think, and talk to him and sort out that issue out of the court,” said Waqar.

“It was sad and it was ugly what happened, but what I’m trying to say here, is you know when it comes to watching each other’s back, both teams have people or players who really love each other’s company,” he added.

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