Legendary Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq narrated a fascinating anecdote from his playing career, involving Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar.

Saqlain and Tendulkar used to have an intense rivalry during their playing days. The former off-spinner revealed that he had once sledged the batting maestro while playing against India in Canada.

However, Tendulkar’s response was such that Saqlain Mushtaq felt like a slap on his face.

"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," Saqlain said while speaking on the Nadir Ali podcast.

"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," Mushtaq recalled Sachin's words.

"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 added.

Mushtaq said he reflected on the incident and thought that Sachin's reaction to his sledging might have been the tactics from the batter's side.

"These are tactics. When someone talks 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," the former spinner stated.

"I then realised 'He played a game with me'. By then he was well set and things had got out of my hands," he further remarked.

In the end, Saqlain Mushtaq also revealed that he went up to Sachin later in the evening and appreciated his smartness.

"How well did he trap me. Not with the bat, but only by using his words," Saqlain concluded.