Indian cricket team in the 90s was primarily all about Sachin Tendulkar, and his rivalries against premium bowlers of that era; Wasim Akram, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Shoaib Akhtar, and Saqlain Mushtaq are some names on that list.
Mushtaq has shared one of the tales from the incident from his playing days, during the era of the 90s when both cricketers were literally in their prime. Pakistani off-spinner Saqlain is also credited for the invention of the ‘Doosra’ delivery in cricket. Whereas Sachin in his 24-year long career is considered the best batter of all time, his consistency can be understood by his 100 centuries in International cricket.
Former Pakistani cricketer reveals his plan to sledge Sachin backfired-
“I once had an incident with Sachin. We went to Canada. I had come there after playing County cricket in England. I was a young boy then and I was in my own world of bowling.
“So after playing County I became a little cocky. Sachin was a very intelligent cricketer. I bowled a very tight first over to him and sledged him. I used some harsh words. He came to me and said very nicely,” said ace off-spinner.
Saqlain played for Pakistan from 1995 to 2004 span, he played 49 Test matches and 169 ODIs for Men in Green, and he dismissed over 400 batters during his playing days. But he will be remembered always for the bowling slog overs for Pakistan and his variations while bowling off spinning deliveries, surely the fingers spinners after the Mushtaq era became more creative.
“Saqi… I never thought you would do this. And you don’t even appear the kind of person who would say such words. I thought you’re a very decent person”. He said it so nicely and believe me for the next 4 overs, his words hit me. I was so consumed by what he said to me that before I could realise, he had done his job. He got set while batting,” he further added.
Beyond any speculations, between September of 1996 and 1998, India and Pakistan played 16 ODIs in Toronto, what was called the Sahara Cup, but going by Saqlain’s story, this could well be one of the matches played in 1997 between the two teams in Canada, during that year ace off-spinner played his maiden County season with Surrey and replicated its success for Pakistan also by taking 69 wickets – which is still a record for the most ODI wickets picked in a calendar year.
“These are tactics. When someone talk to you nicely, you start thinking about it. While I was in my own thoughts, Sachin kept hitting at least one boundary in the next 4-5 overs and I began respecting him. When he finally stepped out and smashed another four, I felt a slap on my face. I then realised ‘He played a game with me,”
“By then he was well set and things had gotten out of my hands. Later in the evening, we met and the hotel and I said to him ‘You’re a clever person’. And he started smiling. How well did he trap me. Not with the bat, but only by using his words,” concluded the 46-year-old in his rivalry with Sachin.
Famous Chennai Test and greatness of Sachin Tendulkar.@Saqlain_Mushtaq explaining how Sachin Handled him in Chennai Test#SachinTendulkar pic.twitter.com/1iQ9MtE6HE
— ?kul. (@Loyalsachfan01) March 14, 2023
India’s ace batter and Pakistan’s greatest match-winner shared many instances of playing against each other, but surely the test match in Chennai on the 1999 Pakistan tour of India was the most memorable one, Tendulkar was batting on 136 runs in the second innings, Men in Blue were 17 runs short of chasing the target of 271 on Day 5, but then Sachin top edged Saqlain delivery while slogging him and got dismissed. Team India eventually went on to lose the game by 12 runs.