New Delhi: At his prime, Virender Sehwag never had "surface tension". Now at 40, with spectacles and big bald patch, it still does not matter.
Just like he had thrashed a young Shoaib Akhtar 10 years back on turf wickets, a slightly round Akhtar was handed the same treatment in front of 500-odd spectators at the inaugural St Moritz Ice Cricket Challenge.
The 39-year-old smashed his first-ever ice cricket fifty in just 25 balls to help his team post a respectable 164/9 in designated 20 overs.
Sehwag was given company by former Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who scored 40 off 30 balls.
Although, Sehwag’s knock couldn’t romp Palace home as Owasis Shah’s blistering innings secured victory for Shahid Afridi’s Royals by 6 wickets.
Despite losing the inaugural game, Diamonds’ captain Virender Sehwag was at his hilarious best.
The right-hander wrote on Twitter, “Hathiyar chhode hain ,chalana nahi bhoole hain :) Great fun on the ice.”
The second match will be played on Friday at the same venue and Sehwag’s Diamonds will look save the series after their crushing defeat on Thursday morning.