Sachin Tendulkar and Saqlain Mushtaq. (Photo Source: Twitter and JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)
Veteran Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has recalled an incident from the Chennai Test between archrivals India and Pakistan in 1999. Notably, Pakistan beat India by 12 runs in the contest. Chasing 271, the hosts lost the top order for 82. However, Sachin Tendulkar compiled a magnificent 136 before getting dismissed.
Notably, Tendulkar’s wicket was the turning point in the match as India folded up for 258 after his dismissal. Pakistan opted to bat first after winning the toss. In the first innings, the visitors scored 238 while India scored 254. Pakistan then scored 286 in their second innings with a lead of 270.
Meanwhile, Mushtaq has credited the then-skipper Wasim Akram for showing trust in him during the Test. He recalled that Akram told him he does not trust anyone else than him.
“In the first innings, I dismissed Sachin in the first or second delivery. Next innings when he came to bat, he did not play a single shot for the first 10 overs. He observed all my tricks. I tried off-spin, doosra, top-spin, arm-ball. He just played me cautiously for 10-12 overs. After that, he started smashing me,” Mushtaq said on The Nadir Ali podcast.
“Then, I went to Wasim Akram and told him ‘Wasim bhai, I think he is reading me well so please take me off and bring someone else. Akram told me ‘Brother, no matter what, you will bowl from this end. I don’t trust anyone else. If this match turns, it will because of you’. I would give a lot of credit to Wasim Akram,” he added.
India had lost half of their side without putting even 100 runs on the board. However, Tendulkar and wicketkeeper-batter Nayan Mongia stitched a crucial 136-run stand for the sixth wicket. After Tendulkar was dismissed for 136 off 273 balls, the lower-order crumbled as the team bundled out for 258.
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