The incident took place during the 2008 Mumbai Indians-Kolkata Knight Riders (MI vs KKR) match. Tendulkar was the captain of Mumbai. Akhtar played for Kolkata under Ganguly. Akhtar says the match was an unforgettable experience.
Rawalpindi, First Published Apr 7, 2022, 7:06 PM IST
Rawalpindi: Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akthar has dismissed Sachin Tendulkar nine times. He has lost three Tests and five ODIs to Akhtar. Akhtar returned Tendulkar in his first IPL season. The incident took place during the 2008 Mumbai Indians-Kolkata Knight Riders (MI vs KKR) match. Tendulkar was the captain of Mumbai. Akhtar played for Kolkata under Ganguly.
Akhtar says the match was an unforgettable experience. Akhtar said Ganguly had asked him who told him to dismiss Tendulkar after the wicket. As Akhtar describes … ” The game was at Wankhede that day. The stadium was packed with Mumbai Indians fans. It is the city of Tendulkar. The match also received the news that Tendulkar and I were coming face to face. Also present at the stadium was Shah Rukh Khan, owner of the Kolkata franchise.
Batting first, Kolkata were bowled out for just 67 runs. Mumbai won the match by eight wickets. But I had Tendulkar out before he could run. Later, Ganguly changed my fielding position. He was brought inside the circle called Fineleg. I changed my fielding position to avoid being disturbed by the noise of the spectators.
So it seemed to me that it was a big mistake to dismiss Tendulkar in the first over. Later, I had to listen to the cheers of the spectators as I stood on the field in the fine leg. Ganguly then moved me to the midwicket. Ganguly asked me that day. Who told you to kick Tendulkar out? That too in Mumbai? ”
Akhtar, however, said that he did not feel any remorse after the match. It was only in 2008 that Pakistani players were part of the IPL. Later Pakistan came to India for the ODI series and the 2011 ODI World Cup but did not play in Wankhede.
Last Updated Apr 7, 2022, 7:06 PM IST
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