Having almost run out of all options to stop the rampaging Sachin Tendulkar, the then Pakistan captain Wasim Akram asked off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, whom the Master Blaster was "reading bloody well", to take a risk, which remarkably paid off just when it mattered the most as the visitors came out victorious from the epic Chennai 1999 thriller. 

Tendulkar, battling back spasms, played arguably the best Test knock of his career, scoring a majestic 136 on a deteriorating surface at Chepauk and taking India near an unlikely win. 

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However, with 17 needed to cross the last hurdle, the great batsman top-edged a googly from Saqlain and was caught at mid-off by Wasim himself, as India could only add another four runs to the total in a heartbreaking defeat. 

"I remember that Test match like it was yesterday. India and Pakistan were known to play close matches. I remember a Test match in 1987 in Bangalore when Sunil Gavaskar scored some 90-odd and then this Chennai Test," Wasim told former India opener, Aakash Chopra, on his youtube channel. 

"It was such a close Test match, into its last day. I think India needed some 20-odd runs, and the partnership between Mongia and Sachin was flourishing. Sachin was reading Saqlain bloody well, and was aware when he bowled the doosra."

Struggling at 82/5 in the quest of 271, India's hopes rested on Tendulkar, who kept losing partners from the other end, with only Nayan Mongia providing some support via a sixth-wicket partnership of 136 runs. 

"Had Mongia played along, the result would have been different. But when he skied one and got out, I told the players this is the time. Sachin was battling back spasms so the opportunity was right there," said Wasim. 

Having tried all he could to get past Tendulkar, Saqlain went up to Wasim for advice. 

"When Sachin got out, all fielders were on the boundary. Only I was at extra-cover. I told Saqlain to bowl a flighted doosra, knowing the risk that it may even go for a six. Knowing that Sachin would hit over mid-wicket, Saqlain bowled it full on middle and leg. He went after it and top-edged the ball to me," recalled the legendary fast bowler. 

(Inputs from HT)