Shahid Afridi: "Brian Lara best batsman of his era"

Shahid Afridi ranks Brian Lara (R) above Ricky Ponting (C) and Sachin Tendulkar (L) (Getty Images)

Former Pakistani skipper Shahid Afridi has cut West Indian great Brian Lara above Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, among others, calling the legend “the best batsman of his era”.

The 33-year old all-rounder heaped praise on Lara saying that at times he felt the former left-hander from the islands of Trinidad and Tobago could play against spin bowling “blindfolded”.

“Lara was the best batsman I have seen in my entire career spanning 16 years. Personally I found him to be a class above the two other greats of this era, Tendulkar and Pointing,” Afridi was quoted as saying by NDTV SPORTS in an interview.

“At times I felt he was so good at playing spin that he could bat blindfolded! Tendulkar and Pointing are also greats but I thought Lara was a cut above them,” he added.

With regard to the best bowlers of his time, he rated Australian medium-pacer Glenn McGrath and fellow countryman Mohammad Asif as one of the bests the game has ever seen.

Speaking on a personal front, Afridi admitted to committing several mistakes earlier during his career but revealed the fact that he never compromised when it came to his dignity and self-respect.

“I’m that sort of a person if I feel I’m not wanted or I don’t get along with someone I will not play. I couldn’t get along with Waqar Younis when he was captain so I decided not to play and stepped aside,” he said.