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South Africa, who shine as one of the premier teams in the international arena, often fail in the ICC series but on other days, it is customary to put up performances that can blow away the top teams like Australia. It can be said that all the players who played in that team especially at the end of the 90’s have blown away the opponents with such quality that they became legends. One of those quality players is fast bowler Allan Donald. Playing internationally from 1991 to 2003, he took 330 Test wickets and 272 ODI wickets and played a part in many historic victories for South Africa.
More than that, he suffocated even world-class batsmen with his speed, but no one can forget that he once suffocated England captain Michael Atherton with his incredible speed. He has also been a challenger against Indian players including Sachin Tendulkar and has been a killer in sledging and taking wickets. Meanwhile, Allan Donald has publicly apologized for sledging former Indian cricketer and current coach Rahul Dravid in a match in 1997 and taking a wicket.
Sorry Dravid:
In the year 1997, a Trilateral ODI series was held between South Africa, Zimbabwe and India. The final between South Africa and India was canceled due to rain. However, Gary Christon 51, Cullinan 60, Jonty Rhodes 41 and Kallis 49 saw South Africa post 278/8 in the rematch on the reserve day.
Sachin and Dravid added runs to India’s chase of a new target of 252 in 40 overs, but Ganguly got out early as rain interrupted the chase. India lost by 17 runs, despite Dravid scoring 84 (94) runs, especially beating the South African bowlers including Donald. However, Donald, who at one stage badly sledged and dismissed Man of the Match winner Rahul Dravid, has now apologized for it, although he could not say what it was.
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Donald spoke about this in the first Test match being held at the Chattogram stadium, especially when they clashed as players and are now clashing as coaches of India and Bangladesh teams. “I don’t want to talk about a bad incident at the Durban stadium. Then he and Sachin Tendulkar smashed us. Then in a moment I crossed the line.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U3raGlH4ok
“However, I have great respect for Rahul. So now I want to travel with him and sit in a calm atmosphere and apologize for what happened that day. At that point I did something despicable and took his wicket. But today I apologize for those words I said that day. He has a wonderful mind. Rahul Dravid said, “If you ask, I’d like to have a heart-to-heart with you one night.”
Also Read: IND vs BAN: Amazing Ashwin Pair, India Intimidate Bowling With Big Scores – Here’s the Tea Break Score
The video of his speech was shown to Rahul Dravid by Sony Sports. Rahul Dravid, who was heartened to see it, gave the following humorous response without keeping anything of the past in mind. “I am certainly looking forward to meeting you. Especially if you want to pay for dinner that night, sure we can meet,” he replied cheerfully. It is truly commendable that Donald, who once fought for the country as a player, now after 25 years as a coach, has openly apologized to Rahul.
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