Imran Khan Threw Me a Challenge When I Decided to Retire - Sunil Gavaskar

Former India captain, Sunil Gavaskar revealed he extended his Test career after a challenge posed to him by Imran Khan.

One of the all-time greats, Imran Khan had asked Gavaskar to play on till the series against Pakistan. Imran felt the series wouldn’t have been the same without Sunil Gavaskar.

“You can’t retire now. Pakistan is coming to India next year. I want to beat India in India. If you aren’t part of that team, it won’t be the same. Come on, let’s have one last tilt against each other,” Imran had told Gavaskar back in 1986.

Gavaskar had told Imran that had the tour been announced before the last Test against England, he would have announced his retirement.

“I said if the announcement of the tour wasn’t made before the final Test, I would go ahead and announce my retirement from international cricket. The tour was indeed announced in a few days,” Gavaskar wrote in his column.

Gavaskar reveals about the challenge posed to him by Imran Khan

“Pakistan won the last and final Test of that series. After the earlier Tests were all drawn and thus beat India for the first time in India. I didn’t announce my retirement at the end of the Pakistan series. I was keen on playing the MCC bi-centenary Test at Lord’s a little later,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar also lavished praise on Imran Khan for helping Pakistan lift the only World Cup back in 1992.

“He had a vision before the 1992 World cup started that Pakistan would win the trophy and that’s exactly how it turned out. His belief despite Pakistan’s slow start to the tournament was unshakeable.”

Meanwhile, the legendary batsman also sent his warm wishes to Imran Khan after he got appointed as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He further added that given the charismatic character Imran, every Indian would look to succeed in his new venture.

Sunil Gavaskar says Imran Khan will be supported by the whole of India

“He is the only Prime Minister of Pakistan who has come to India several times as an ordinary citizen and has interacted not only with the high societal types but also the man on the street who met him as a fan. Imran should, therefore, be well aware that most Indians would want him to succeed as a Prime Minister and usher in a new era of friendship, and look forward not back.

“If his success as the cricket skipper is anything to go by, he will instil not just a sense of self-belief but also destiny in his ministerial and party colleagues. Not just Pakistanis but the Indians also want him to take care of the problems between the two countries and bring a new zest to the relationship, for if Imran ‘Khant’ then nobody can,” he signed off.