Wasim Akram reveals how he mocked young Sachin Tendulkar in his international debut

Sachin Tendulkar is known for his humble and down to earth attitude.

Tendulkar made his Test debut on November 15, 1989 in Pakistan | AFP

Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Akram, who are considered two of the best cricketers to have graced the game, were involved in many memorable battles on the field but also have mutual respect for each other on the same time. But there was a point in their illustrious careers when one was mocked by the other and he is none other than Akram who mocked Tendulkar in his first international match in 1989.

The interesting incident happened with Tendulkar in his first international tour to Pakistan in 1989 when as a 16-year-old, it was his India debut against a stellar Pakistani pace attack which had the fiery bowlers likes of Akram, Imran Khan and Waqar Younis.

A young Tendulkar was taking baby steps into becoming a cricketing great, while Akram had already established himself as one of the fiercest bowlers in the world, having started playing for Pakistan in 1984. However, Tendulkar –a teenager with immense talent was then ready to take the world on the storm with his brilliant batting but maybe was not ready for the bouncers of sledging from Pakistan.

Pakistan was already aware of the immensely talented Sachin and wanted to get him in the backfoot as the Mumbai boy had to face the wrath of some sledging from the Pakistani bowlers. 

Meanwhile, Akram revealed on Monday (September 17) at Salaam Cricket 2018 held in Dubai that he had intimidated Tendulkar at the tender age of 16 when he walked out to bat in Pakistan. He had mocked the young Tendulkar saying that if he had asked his mother before coming out to bat here.

As per reports in India Today, Wasim revealed, “We had read about Sachin.... that there's a sensation coming.. a 16-year old. But when he came (out to bat), he looked 14 years old and I told him, "mummy se puchke aaya hai? (Did you ask your mother before coming?)”

Noteworthy, Tendulkar made his Test debut on November 15, 1989and went on to play all four Test matches in the series scoring 215 runs while playing against fiery Pakistani bowling attack. He retired from the game in 2013, after playing 300 test matches, the most by any player in the history of the game. 

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 19 Sep, 2018

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