KOLKATA, April 2: Pakistan’s World Cup winning skipper Imran Khan in a recent interview here, rated West Indian great Sir Vivian Richards as the greatest batsman he ever bowled to. The legendary Pakistan all-rounder said Richards had the gifted quality of amazing reflexes by which he could decimate any attack with elan.

“Of all the players in my time, Viv Richards stood out as the greatest. He was a complete genius. Viv was the only batsman who would attack me. No other batsman could attack me when I was at my peak,” the 58-year-old said. “He had amazing reflexes, greater than anyone else. He could destroy any attack, any fast bowler.

It was a gifted ability. He could move into position, so quickly... Just incredible.”

Imran also had high praise for another West Indian great Gary Sobers and Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar, even as he regretted of not bowling to the duo at the peak.

“My first match in the county was his (Sobers) last. I did get him out, but it was not an achievement. When I started everybody had the same regards about him like I said about Viv. I am not in a position to comment on the batsmen whom I didn’t bowl to.”

Describing Tendulkar as a phenomenon, Imran said: “He is a phenomenon like (Sir Don) Bradman was... But I can’t compare as both are from different eras. It’s the sheer quantity of runs Tendulkar has scored that makes him so special. He has two special gifts, technique and the timing. So if you have both, it enables you to be very consistent.” F

The inspirational Pakistani player picked West Indian Michael Holding when asked to name about the top fast bowlers ever.

“Michael Holding was the best but he did not last very long and was at his peak for about five years but I never saw any other fast bowler of his calibre. Like Viv Richards, he was a genius too,” said Imran.

Imran rated fellow pacer Wasim Akram was one of the complete natural bowlers of the present generation. “Wasim was brilliant, with his superb variation and swing. Only Mohammad Aamir, I thought, had the potential to match Wasim’s ability.”—Agencies