Beyond the Boundary: Pathan Recalls Explosive Sangakkara Clash and Subsequent Friendship
NEW DELHI: Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has offered a fascinating glimpse into the often-intense world of Test cricket, revealing a previously untold heated exchange with Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara during the 2005 Delhi Test. The incident, sparked by a contentious ball change, escalated into personal remarks before a later shared IPL dressing room ultimately forged an unexpected friendship between the two cricketing stalwarts.
Pathan, who famously scored a vital 93 as an opener in that Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla, found himself at the heart of the drama both with bat and tongue. His attacking innings, which included two sixes off the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan, became intertwined with a fiery confrontation with Sangakkara that Pathan recounted years later on JioHotstar’s ‘Cheeky Singles’ programme.
The genesis of the argument lay in the Sri Lankan team’s dissatisfaction with the match ball used during their innings. "There was a Test match in Delhi. I opened and made 93," Pathan began. "After the first innings, when we went to bowl, the box of balls had changed, or something like that happened, and the Sri Lankan players were not happy. Sangakkara was the most vocal of all."
‘You guys cheat’: How the argument started
The tension simmered beneath the surface until Pathan took to the crease in India’s innings. Unaware of the prior complaints, Pathan was focused on his batting, unexpectedly promoted to open. His aggressive approach, particularly his assault on Muralitharan, seemed to ignite Sangakkara’s frustration.
"Then, when I went to bat, I had zero idea what had happened; I was asked to open. I hit Muralitharan for two sixes,” Pathan recalled. He explained the psychological impact of such an onslaught: "If he is getting hit for sixes with the new ball, it means you have derailed the opposition’s planning a bit."
It was at this juncture that the verbal sparring took a sharply personal turn. "Suddenly, Sangakkara started saying, ‘You guys cheat, your parents teach you all this and blah blah.’ He went personal, and I also answered back. He started it,” Pathan revealed. The exchange, according to the former India all-rounder, transcended the typical competitive banter often witnessed in Test cricket, delving into deeply personal territory.
Such an intense confrontation could easily have resulted in a lasting animosity between the two players, their careers forever marked by the bitter words exchanged on the field. However, fate, in the form of the Indian Premier League, had a different plan.
From heated rivals to good friends
Years later, their paths converged once more, this time as teammates for the Kings XI Punjab franchise in the IPL. Pathan admitted to the initial awkwardness of the situation, finding himself sharing a dressing room with the very player with whom he had exchanged such vitriolic words.
"After the auction, I saw I would be playing with Sangakkara at Punjab. Now I was eating with his family, and I did not know what to do," Pathan recounted. Recognizing the need to clear the air, Pathan took the initiative. "I went and told him sorry. He also apologised, and then we became good friends."
The anecdote serves as a powerful reminder of the high-stakes emotional environment of professional sport. "Emotions are high, and you always make mistakes. It matters how maturely you handle things,” Pathan reflected. His account highlights that while the heat of competition can lead players to cross boundaries, those moments do not necessarily have to define their relationships. The ability to acknowledge past transgressions, offer sincere apologies, and move forward with maturity can transform even the most heated rivalries into genuine friendships, a testament to the enduring spirit of sportsmanship beyond the immediate battle on the field.
