Former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq recalled the memories of his battle against Sachin Tendulkar in an epic India vs Pakistan clash in 1999 where Pakistan beat India by 12 runs in Chennai. Sachin scored an astonishing hundred but found no support from the other end which eventually led to India’s loss in Chennai.
Saqlain Mushtaq took the crucial wicket of India’s master blaster, which turned the match in the favor of Pakistan. Mushtaq described the interesting incidents during the match speaking on the Nadir Ali podcast and said he dismissed Sachin in the first innings and in the second innings Sachin Tendulkar came up with a different plan against him defending his balls at ease.
” In the first innings, I dismissed Sachin in the first or second delivery. Next innings when he came to bat, which was at a very crucial point in the match, Sachin did not play a single shot for the first 10 overs. He observed all the tricks that I threw at him. I tried off-spin, doosra, top-spin, arm-ball, bowled quicker off-breaks, flighted deliveries… he just played me cautiously for 10-12 overs. After that, he started smashing me,”
Mushtaq scalped the prized wicket of Tendulkar for 136. With his dismissal, India lost momentum and eventually fell short of 12 runs. Tendulkar played a bad shot of the off-spinner which led to his dismissal – a heavy off Saqlain that took the top edge for Wasim Akram to take the catch.
I would give a lot of credit to Wasim Akram – Saqlain Mushtaq
Mushtaq further revealed the interesting conversation with Wasim Akram as he wanted to change the bowling as felt that Sachin was reading him very well, but the Pakistan skipper wanted him to bowl from one end as he believed that only he can turn the match.
“Then came a time when I went to Wasim Akram. I 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 out, it will be because of you. I would give a lot of credit to Wasim Akram. This is the communication he and I had during that match.”
Though Sachin Tendulkar won the player of the match for his terrific batting performance in the 2nd innings. Saqlain Mushtaq was the star performer for Pakistan picking up 10 wickets in the match.