‘My heart didn’t want him to get out’: Former Pakistan captain reveals why he enjoyed watching Sachin Tendulkar bat

Sachin Tendulkar is regarded as a legend of the game - not only because he broke numerous cricketing records, but also because of his demeanour during a cricket match. While India played high-intensity contests against several teams over the year, Tendulkar managed to remain in good books of every opposition team and player. While India have shared an intense cricketing rivalry with Pakistan, ‘Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar played a crucial role in India’s victory in several high profile contests between the two teams. Still, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif says that the batsman remained one of his most memorable opponents.

Speaking in a Youtube video, the former Pakistan wicket-keeper-batsman Latif recalled that from his heart, he did not want Tendulkar to get out whenever he used to bat.

Also read: Russel Arnold recalls bust-up with Sourav Ganguly in 2002 Champions Trophy final

“Several players came to bat, when I used to keep. But when he used to come out to bat, my heart did not want him to get out. I used to enjoy watching him bat, while I was keeping. Not while watching him play on TV, but while I was standing behind the stumps,” Latif said. 

“Whether it was Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting or Jacques Kallis, I always felt like getting them out while I was keeping. Tendulkar’s behaviour was unique. Even if I say some thing from behind, he never would respond or say something back, he just kept laughing,” he added.

READ| Could Otis shatter the glass ceiling and become face of WWE?

“Others used to react. He and Mohammad Azharuddin were like this. They used to make opposition’s players their own. This is why everyone admires Tendulkar, especially wicket-keepers. He would slam a hundred, he would be attacking bowlers, but he never said a word. And you are trying to rile him up as a keeper to get him out, but he would never react,” the Pakistan batsman added.

“You play an innings, you leave. But one always remember your behaviour. In my opinion, he is at the top of the list of players who had the best on-field behaviour, and such players forever remain etched in your memories,” he added.

In his cricketing career, Tendulkar played 200 Tests in which he hammered 15,921 runs at an average of 53.8. He also played 463 ODIs in which he scored 18,426 runs at an average of 44.8. To this day, he remains the only player to score 100 international hundreds.