Sachin Tendulkar and Shoaib Akhtar had a bitter rivalry on the field during their playing days. While Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen to have played the game, Akhtar has achieved a legendary status as a fast bowler.
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The Pakistani star has been quite open in his admiration for the Indian in the past and regards Tendulkar as one of the finest cricketers in the history of the game. Both are icons of the sport who have given their fans memories for a lifetime.
while talking to sportskeeda Recently, Akhtar recalled the famous Test match between India and Pakistan at the Eden Gardens in 1999. Coming into the match, Tendulkar was in fine form and had already scored two centuries in the last two Tests. However, Akhtar had other plans as he bowled a fine yorker, which uprooted the Indian batsman’s middle stump.
Akhtar became an overnight sensation by dismissing Tendulkar like this.
The speedster took a trip down memory lane and said the atmosphere was electrifying when Tendulkar stepped out to bat. Sachin was walking very slowly, his walking was not ending. I turned and went to the beginning of my run up and turned back and still he was not ready. He was getting ready and Wasim Akram (Pakistan captain) was telling me ‘don’t miss the Shebby line at all’. Make sure your reverse swing ends on the wickets and bowl with whatever you have. I was very worried about getting him out. I clearly remember thinking what to bowl to him,” Akhtar was quoted as saying.
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Akhtar then described the ball on which he dismissed Tendulkar for a golden duck.
“Finally Sachin agreed. I started running and all my attention was on that. If he had moved a little, I would have been able to hold him. The ball kept going till the crease, I didn’t make any mistake in run-up, jump or action. I released the ball, Sachin picked up his bat and left. His lift was very high and the ball was reversing a lot. The ball I bowled, I knew it would hit the stumps. I’m not surprised and you’ll see it. After the almighty, it is probably Sachin who made me a star because of that incident,” said Akhtar.
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