Pakistan legend Wasim Akram wants Sachin Tendulkar to add a diplomatic feather to his cricket cap by becoming the peace envoy for the two neighbouring countries.

Ahead of Tendulkar’s 40th birthday on Wednesday, Akram called on Tendulkar to help improve relations between the two nations.

“People in Pakistan see him as an icon, a legend and batting maestro. People respect him as much in Pakistan as they do in India and worldwide. He is a true ambassador,” Akram said.

Akram says people respect Sachin as much in Pakistan as they do in India and worldwide. He is a true ambassador.

“The way he speaks, he is a quiet man and unlike a superstar, but he is a superstar. He is a true role model and he can be very helpful and useful between these two countries as an ambassador,” the former skipper told ‘BBC’ during a radio special titled ‘Sachin at 40′.

It was aired on Tuesday and featured a range of former colleagues like Kapil Dev, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly paying birthday tributes.

Courtesy: NDTV SPORTS

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram paid rich tribute to master blaster Sachin Tendulkar who announced One-Day International (ODI) retirement recently.

Tendulkar, a veteran of 463 ODIs played many memorable and match-winning matches for India but his innings against Australia at Sharjah in 1998 will remain Akram’s favourite ‘Sachin Tendulkar knock’.

“I saw his knock against Australia in the final of the 1998 series in Sharjah. He scored 134 against the tough Aussie attack and under immense pressure. He has played some great knocks in limited over cricket, but that one, in my book, is the best Sachin Tendulkar knock,” Akram said.

Akram feels it would be difficult for cricketers in future to break Tendulkar’s record. While speaking about Tendulkar’s achievements, he said, “Over 18,000 runs, 49 centuries – forget beating that record, I don’t think anyone will even come close.

“While those who have seen him play in ODIs will obviously miss his genius, the coming generation will never know what they’ve missed.”

A calm demeanour, according to the former Pakistan cricketer, was Tendulkar’s biggest strength.

“Personally for me, when he came out to bat, he looked very cool and calm. He never looked anxious or under pressure,” Akram was quoted by the BCCI’s official website. “With 98 percent of batsmen I saw walk in to bat, I could tell they were under pressure, but this guy was always so calm; and that I think was the secret of his success as a batsman.”

Praising the Little Master’s technique, he added, “From a cricketing point of view, he was a difficult batsman because of his technique. His defence was solid and his shots were proper. As a bowler, you hardly had a chance to get him out unless you bowled a magic delivery.”

Akram, who was a part of many famous cricketing battles with Tendulkar, recollected a particular ODI in Sharjah in 2000.

He said, “In that same Sharjah ODI he hit me for a couple of boundaries off short deliveries. Every batsman was struggling against my short-of-a-length delivery, but he pulled me twice. And then I said, ‘No more bouncers to him’. I realised that the best way against him is to keep bowling the middle-and-off line. I always looked at containing him because I knew that as an opening batsman, he is always going to play proper shots to an opening bowler and never slog.”

Tendulkar’s name has often been mentioned along with Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, and Jacques Kallis as one of the modern-day masters. According to Akram, what separates the Indian batsman from the rest was his brilliant technique that never changed over the years.

Observes Akram, “He was the only batsman I noticed over the years who never changed his technique. When an Indian or Pakistani batsman goes to Australia they change their technique and go on the backfoot, but he never did that.

“That’s because he was so good at picking up the length of the ball. I don’t think any batsman picked up the length better in world cricket.”

Despite his greatness, Akram feels Tendulkar had his weaknesses and Pakistan exploited them well.

He said, “We knew his weakness and that’s why we had Abdul Razzaq have a go at him all the time. Sachin didn’t like facing those medium paced slow, out-swing bowlers, and every time Razzaq bowled to him, he got him out.”

Akram’s Yorkers were considered lethal and more often got the better of many of the supreme batsmen of his era but the former Pakistan captain regrets bowling it to the Indian genius in a particular Test match.

He said, “It was stupid of me to bowl him a yorker in the 1999 Chennai Test when he was batting on 70-80 odd. It was a very good yorker with the second new ball and I had the mid-on and mid-off standing straighter as well. And he straight drove me for four. His straight drive is the best in the world.”

Courtesy: CRICKET COUNTRY

Famed Pakistan pace duo Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis Monday paid rich tribute to Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, labelling him “the greatest batsman of this era”.

Tendulkar, 39, announced his retirement from one-day internationals on Sunday after scoring 18,426 runs in 463 matches with 49 centuries — all three world records for most runs, matches and hundreds.

“I don’t say that a batsman like him will not come but he was the greatest batsman of this era and to maintain the zeal and fitness for 23 years was a big achievement for him,” said Waqar, who retired in 2004.

“I also feel proud that I played against him and found him a great player and a nice gentleman.”

Wasim said Tendulkar’s records spoke volumes about his achievements.

“It will be tough to match them in the years to come,” Wasim told AFP. “He was a special talent and a very special cricketer.”

Tendulkar made his Test debut against India’s arch-rivals Pakistan in Karachi in 1989 and Wasim recalled mocking the young batsman with his bowling partner.

“Sachin was really 16 at the time when he came to Pakistan in 1989 and Waqar and I thought, ‘What will this 16-year-old do against us?’” he said.

“I hit him on the mouth but he showed a lot of gumption and courage to score a fifty in the fourth Test in Sialkot and after that innings we realised that he is a special talent.”

As the leading batsman for cricket-mad India, Tendulkar carried the weight of a nation’s expectations on his shoulders, but Wasim said he handled the burden well.

“Sachin always played under a lot of pressure from the billions of Indian fans and the kind of consistency he showed proved that he handled those pressures and huge expectations admirably well,” said Wasim.

Courtesy: CRICKET COUNTRY

The recent criticism about his leadership skills, notwithstanding, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is still the “right choice” for Indian captaincy but he needs to be “more flexible in his tactics”, feels former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram.

Dhoni’s leadership skills came under the scanner in the on-going four-Test series against England, which India are trailing 1-2.

But Akram begs to differ, saying: “I am positive that Dhoni is the right choice to remain as captain, but he has to be more flexible in his tactics.

“You cannot throw the ball to a novice like Ravichandran Ashwin, like Dhoni did in Kolkata, and expect him to produce miracles. India and Dhoni, in particular, are lacking a Plan B when situations get tough, where they have seemed content in containing rather than attacking.

“If the team management feels that a policy of split-captaincy would release the pressure on Dhoni, then may be there is a need for change. But personally I would still have Dhoni over next-in-line Virat Kohli, who is too young to lead Team India,” the legendary pacer added.

Akram, however, said veteran Sahin Tendulkar’s poor form is a matter of grave concern for the Indian team, which is presently going through a transition after the retirements of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

“Rather than drastically overhauling the side, the Indian selectors have done the right thing in making a few changes to the squad. The most pressing concern is the form and future of Sachin Tendulkar,” he said.

Akram also criticised left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan and said he looked unfit during the first three Tests against England.

“The on-going transition within the Indian squad has seen pace spearhead Zaheer Khan axed from the side after picking up just four wickets in three Tests versus England so far.

“Despite skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni publicly backing Zaheer, saying he was bowling in the right areas, it has been his alarming lack of pace that has left the English batsmen untroubled,” he observed.

“It seems to me that Zaheer’s main problem stems from his fitness levels. His run-up is slow and lethargic while his follow-through is almost non-existent. Compare this to the English pacers, James Anderson and Steven Finn. They bowled their hearts out every delivery, constantly touched speeds of 140 kmph.

“Zaheer’s stock delivery is the reverse-swinging one, but for it to be effective he will have to run-in a lot faster. He is 34 years old and not getting any younger but if he can improve his physical condition by going back to first-class cricket then India can rely on Zak for a further two years at least,” Akram added.

Courtesy: TIMES OF INDIA

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram feels since it might be difficult for the selectors to ask a player of Sachin Tendulkar’s stature to retire and therefore the senior batsman should himself take a call on his international career.

Stating that the pressure on Tendulkar has increased after India’s two back-to-back defeats in four-Test series against England, Akram said, “When your most experienced batsman hasn’t scored a Test century in almost two years, questions are bound to rise.
“It finally boils down to your own assessment as (Australia’s Ricky) Ponting did.

“The question is who will bell the cat? Who will pop the question? Today, former cricketers are openly asking for Dhoni’s head.

Can you do the same with a Tendulkar? A lot of people, like Sourav Ganguly, feel he should retire, but Sachin himself might still want to continue for another six months or so. It’s difficult to give any advice to a legend like Sachin,” Akram said.

The former pacer also said that a definite answer on Tendulkar’s future plans would give the national selectors a chance to find a suitable replacement.

“The changes have to be made carefully. One shouldn’t tamper too much with the team line-up. But the middle order needs a few new faces. And somebody needs to ask Sachin on what is his future plan and for how long does he want to continue.

“A definite answer will only enable Indian selectors find a replacement, insisted Akram.

Akram said had he been in Tendulkar’s place, he would have stepped down by now as there was hardly anything more left to achieve.

“When Sachin first stepped into international cricket, nobody would have thought that this lad would go on to score 100 tons and smash all batting records. If I was in his shoes I would have stepped down by now because there is nothing else left to achieve.”

Courtesy: TIMES OF INDIA

Kolkata, Dec 8: India’s legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s recent slump in form has led to his retirement talks, despite his 76 against England at Eden Gardens. Former Pakistan cricketers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, latest to comment on the master blaster feel he should play for another year and think about retirement.

Sachin Tendulkar struggling to score runs over the last one year, showed glimpses of regaining form with a gutsy knock of 76 against England in the first innings of the Eden Test. Interestingly, having represented Pakistan in 87 Tests and 262 ODIs, Waqar Younis made his Test debut with Sachin Tendulkar in Nov 1989. The former Pakistan cricketer felt the Indian cricket team is currently undergoing a lot of changes and would need Sachin Tendulkar to support them atleast for a couple of months.

“The situation in which the Indian team finds itself at the moment…from what we find out from the ongoing England series, I believe that he (Tendulkar) would be needed for another 6-8 months,” Waqar said. “As a cricketer, he is one of the greatest of all times. I don’t know what he is feeling at the moment but it’s difficult to carry on with the same passion after giving 23 years to the international cricket.

If you ask me, he can play for another 6-8 months or a year,” Waqar added. Wasim Akram also echoed his former teammate’s opinion and said the Indian batting legend could continue for a couple of months. “I have heard some people saying that he is eyeing 200 Test matches. Whether he plays 200 or 250 Test matches, that will hardly make any difference to me because he has shattered all the records in the cricket book,” Wasim told a private news channel.

Akram also defended Tendulkar and said having played for 23 years, it is quite natural for any player to undergo a bad patch. “What he (Tendulkar) wants to do and how long he wants to play, it’s up to him but the age is not on his side. It does affect your game at the international level,” Akram added. “These talks that Sachin should take retirement from cricket have been going on for past 6-7 years. I have always seen that whenever you have criticised him, he has come up with a performance that everyone starts talking about his batting,” pointed Akram, who has represented Pakistan in 104 Tests from 1985-2002.

Courtesy: THATS CRICKET.COM

HOBART: Pakistan pace legend Wasim Akram has backed Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s controversial rotation policy, saying that there is “good reason” behind the move as senior players are either “not in his control” or they have become a “liability”.

Dhoni’s remarks about senior players being slow fielders has triggered speculation that there are dissensions in the Indian dressing room.

Wasim said Dhoni’s comments are an “absolutely genuine” opinion. “In my opinion, Dhoni is a very intelligent person and I totally agree with him because he says what he thinks. There must be a very good reason behind his comments because I have never heard Dhoni speaking in such a manner,” he said.

“I think either the seniors are not in his control or they are a liability.”

The former Pakistan captain feels Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag will have to be physically fit to sustain themselves in the ODI format from now on.

“As the grounds are big in Australia, players have to be in the best of their health to play. Nobody questions Tendulkar’s fitness, either you see him fielding at short third-man or fine-leg. You can hide your fielders in Test and T20s but not in ODIs,” Wasim explained.

He also questioned the role of coach Duncan Fletcher in team selection.

“If I am the coach, I will send the best batsman to open the innings. Gautam Gambhir has scored in 90s twice in the series so far and he is the best opener available. It is up to the team management to decide who will be his opening partner,” commented Wasim.

Courtesy: DAWN.COM

PAKISTAN great Wasim Akram has branded India’s ageing batsmen ‘physically inadequate’ – wilting in a bumbling unit embarrassing sub-continent cricket.

Akram says MS Dhoni’s side has been cocooned at home by an Indian board complicit in its downfall and obsessed with a Twenty20 Premier League.

“Perth should be an eye-opener for Indian cricket,” said Akram of India’s second loss by an innings this tour in a 3-0 scoreline after losing to England 4-0 last winter.

“Seven straight overseas Test losses should send the BCCI a clear message: there is something seriously wrong in the way India are playing cricket and a team that was recently world No. 1 cannot afford to be just kings at home.

“India’s abject surrender is a sub-continental shame.”

Even icon Sachin Tendulkar – the only Indian batsman to average over 40 here – didn’t escape the wrath of Akram as one of India’s flat track bullies.

“The conditions at Perth and Sydney exposed the physical inadequacies of an ageing cricketer,” said Akram, who provided advice to giant Australian left-armer Mitchell Starc in Perth.

“Hot and humid conditions can be physically taxing and at the WACA, at least three senior Indian batsmen were simply too tired to move their feet and tackle a moving ball after fielding for almost two days.

“Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Tendulkar have been legends but past laurels don’t win you matches.”

Akram – the superstar allrounder who retired in 2002 with 414 wickets at 23 and 2898 runs at 22.64 in 104 Tests – says India must make tough calls on its seniors to renew and win abroad.

“The criticism of the Indian team is fully justified,” said Akram, with India still without a series win in Australia after 10 visits.

“The onus is now on the Indian selectors, who have to take some brave decisions.

“You need to accept reality and move on.”

Akram said skipper Dhoni – banned from playing in the Adelaide Test due to slow over rates – must lift his game in the Test arena while coach Duncan Fletcher faced an unfavourable review in 12 months.

Source: The Daily Telegraph
Courtesy: Herald Sun

Retiring Pakistan speedster remembers his contests against Tendulkar ahead of the high voltage ICC Cricket World Cup semis in Mohali.

To play or not to play Shoaib Akhtar in the ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal against India may be the question confronting the Pakistan camp, but any contest between the mercurial Pakistan speedster and Sachin Tendulkar will always be a mouthwatering event to look forward to.

Three shy of 250 ODI wickets, Akhtar probably never expected this opportunity to present itself in this ICC CWC, but given half a chance, he would like to bowl to Tendulkar once more before pulling the curtain on his roller-coaster career.

“A battle with Sachin is always special. Not because of the India-Pakistan rivalry but because of the fact he is a great batsman whose wicket you will always want,” Akhtar told ESPNSTAR.com in a recent interview in Colombo.

Among Akhtar’s most memorable moments is cleaning up Tendulkar for a first-ball duck in the first match of the Asian Test championship at Eden Gardens in February 1999. Akhtar got the back-to-back wickets of Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar, as he finished with an eight-wicket match haul. Pakistan won the Test by 46 runs.

Akhtar remembers Tendulkar’s dismissal quite vividly. “He wasn’t focused and he seemed to be a little ignorant as well. It certainly wasn’t my best ball. I bowled him a full-pitched delivery and I was sure he would straight drive it for a four, but he missed,” reminisced the 36-year-old.

Akhtar doesn’t rate Tendulkar among his top-three batsmen in the world. “He would never take me on, something which an Adam Gilchrist or Brian Lara would do. Sachin is surely a great batsman, but I was never in awe of him,” Akhtar said during the exclusive chat.

Not only Tendulkar’s first-ball dismissal, Akhtar remembers the Asian Test championship match at the Eden Gardens for a controversial run out that cost the Little Master his wicket in the second innings. For the first time in almost 12 years, Akhtar has cleared the air, saying he could not be faulted for the dismissal.

“I wasn’t even looking at Sachin. I was watching the ball. I wish I had four eyes because I didn’t see Sachin going through my groin. He should have avoided me and believe me, there was no element of unfairness. Sachin just got stuck. Bad luck,” Akhtar explained.

Tendulkar’s dismissal inflamed the Eden crowd. Vandalism in the stands forced the police to evict all the fans and the match had to be completed in front of an empty stadium. “It was a sad ending but there was no way we would have recalled Tendulkar. He would then have taken the match away from us,” Akhtar said.

Akhtar has been quite successful against Tendulkar in the World Cup as well. During a World Cup pool A match at Centurion on March 1, 2003, Akhtar denied Tendulkar a well-deserved century. Tendulkar did set up India’s six wicket win, but he edged Akhtar to Younis Khan when on 98!

Both Akhtar and Younis are available in Mohali on Wednesday. Will Pakistan play Akhtar purely because of psychological reasons?

Courtesy: ESPN STAR

Karachi: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram feels the fourth Test at The Oval will provide Sachin Tendulkar with an ideal opportunity to reach the milestone of scoring 100 international centuries, in the ongoing four-match series against England.

The Oval is the venue for the fourth and final Test.

Akram is, however, not certain if the champion batsman would be able to get to the landmark in the third Test at Edgbaston, where the ball swings around, and the pressure would be on India to come back into the series.

“I think Tendulkar will reach the milestone in the fourth Test at the oval where he has the best chance of creating history. But I have no doubt he will get this milestone and become the first batsman to achieve this record,” Akram told reporters in Karachi.

He was in the city to attend the opening of a T20 corporate tournament being organised by former captain and close friend, Moin Khan at a brand new ground in the posh Defence Housing Society area in Karachi.

Akram said the pressure comes from the fact that Tendulkar is standing on the threshold of achieving a landmark no cricketer has come close to in the history of the game. “There has been so much hype and build up to this series and particularly around Tendulkar’s milestone that obviously the pressure must be felt by the great batsman. Even the greatest of batsman feel the pressure in such situations.” Akram said Tendulkar had not batted badly so far in the series, considering the conditions in England.

“You need a bit of luck in English conditions where the ball does a lot and unfortunately he has not got that bit of luck. But I think his best chance of scoring his 100th international hundred will be at the Oval,” he added.

The pacer, who has played a number of times against Tendulkar, said there was no doubt about the greatness of the Indian. “To be able to score 100th international hundreds is an amazing achievement and I don’t see anyone coming close to it for a long long time,” Akram said.

India, who have lost the first two Tests by huge margins, are grappling with several fitness issues with top players like Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh down with injuries.

Courtesy: Express India – Express Cricket.