July 11, 2008	Friday	Rajab 7, 1429

KARACHI, July 10: India’s dashing all-rounder Yuvraj Singh may be disappointed on being dropped from the Indian Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour but he had reasons to smile on Thursday after former Pakistan great Hanif Mohammad compared him with none other than the West Indian cricket legend Sir Gary Sobers.

Hanif compared Yuvraj’s style of play with the former West Indies captain and all-rounder.

Hanif, a big fan of Sobers, said when he saw Yuvraj hit six sixes in an over off England’s Stuart Broad in Twenty20 World Championship, flashes of the West Indian legend sparked in his mind.

Sobers is among the very few cricketers to have hit six sixes in an over in a first class match. “I saw him [Yuvraj] hitting those six sixes against England. For a moment, I thought that Sobers was batting,” Hanif told ESPN.

The 71-year-old former Pakistan captain said he loved watching Yuvraj bat. “He is so talented. His [Yuvraj’s] approach to a delivery, his adjustment to ball reminds me of Sobers. I am a great fan of Sobers and Yuvraj’s style is very similar to him.”

Hanif was recently honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award at the Asian Cricket Award ceremony. Yuvraj too received a special award for his six sixes in an over at the Twenty20 World Cup.—Agencies