Latif remembers the day he broke down ‘The Wall'

Dubai: When India great Rahul Dravid announced his retirement on Friday, one former UAE cricketer immediately thought back to the time he broke through ‘The Wall'. Left-arm spinner Rizwan Latif clean bowled Dravid at his peak seven years ago in an Asia Cup match against India at the Dambulla International Stadium in Sri Lanka. "The moment I heard the news of Dravid's retirement I recalled the delivery with which I once got him clean bowled," said Latif, now a coach with the Emirates Cricket Training in Dubai. "He was the finest batsmen I had bowled to in my life and I felt very sad to hear that he is retiring from the game." Dravid, who earned his nicknamed because of his resolute defence, cracked a brilliant 104 off 93 balls with eight boundaries before he was bowled by Latif that day. The knock helped India pile up 260 for six, while the UAE were restricted to just 144. Vivid recollection Latif was no slouch in his playing days. The former Consolidated Shipping Services player's spell of six for 25 against Air India remains among the best ever seen in the Bukhatir league. The spinner has a vivid recollection of the delivery that got Dravid. "I pitched the ball in the middle and turned it in," said Latif, whose brother Shakil is the head coach and director of ECT. "Dravid attempted to hit it on the leg side and missed the turn. I felt so wonderful and proud after getting his wicket." Latif also got the wicket of Sourav Ganguly that day, returning figures of two for 69. "A few overs before I got Dravid bowled I beat him with a delivery and the next ball he took a single and came up to me and said that it was a very good ball. I was surprised by his humility and sporting gesture," said Latif. "Dravid's shots in the match will never fade from my memory. His favourite cut shot and extra cover drive were a treat to watch especially from very close." Another UAE player had also has fond memories of playing against Dravid. C.T.K. Masoud, the captain of the Kannur Veerans team that recently lifted the Kerala Premier League title, played against a teenage Dravid in a Vijay Merchant Trophy match back in 1988. Masoud played for Kerala Under-15s against Dravid's Karnataka Under-15s. Dravid displayed his huge potential, cracking a brilliant 204 in the match. From gulfnews