"Sunny Bhai... They Might Love Me In India But They'll Hate Me In Pakistan" - Former Pakistan Captain Wasim Akram

There is almost no other spectacle in international cricket that matches the fervour and ferocity of the atmosphere that can be seen during an India-Pakistan game. The last Test series between India and Pakistan was played in 2007-08. There have been 15 test series between the two teams so far. India has won four of these tests, while Pakistan has won four as well.

Although the two teams no longer play each other in bilateral series, several stars have had career-defining performances in Test matches between the two teams. The Tests were often high-octane clashes, but there were also many moments of mutual respect between the two teams. Sachin Tendulkar’s run out in the first Test of the 1998/99 Asian Test Championship was one of the career-defining moments between India and Pakistan.

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Tendulkar clashed with Shoaib when taking a run, this time with Pakistan captain Wasim Akram bowling, and was run out as a result. The Pakistani players failed to impress the crowd at the Eden Gardens, appealing for dismissal and celebrating when it was declared in their favour. The game had to be stopped after they started pelting stones and abusing the visitors.

It’s Too Late For Me To Withdraw The Appeal – Wasim Akram

Wasim has now revealed in his autobiography, ‘Sultan: A Memoir’ that match referee and former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar approached him. He claimed that it was not his decision, that the umpire had given him out, and that it was too late to withdraw the appeal.

“During the break, I was approached by the match referee with Sunil Gavaskar. ‘Wasim, we think you should recall Sachin,’ said Sunny. People will love you in India. Sunny knew how partisan the Kolkata crowd could be – he had once refused to play a Test there because he had been so badly barracked the previous time,” says Wasim in an excerpt from the book.

“But I had my own fans to worry about. ‘Sunny bhai… they might love me in India but they’ll hate me in Pakistan,’ I said. ‘Anyway, it’s not my decision. The umpire has given him out. It’s too late for me to withdraw the appeal. Play has continue. We all know it’s an accident but cricket is full of accidents. It’s not up to the captains to rectify.”

After playing the ball to midwicket, Tendulkar went for the third run. The fielder was Nadeem Khan, and he got a direct hit as Tendulkar was looking at the ball, and he collided with Shoaib before reaching the crease. Nadeem later admitted that the direct strike was a fluke.

Also read: PAK vs ENG: “Phir Wohi Baat Kar Rahe Hain, Aap Khel Le Phir” – Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ramiz Raja