'They will hate me in Pakistan': Wasim Akram on Sachin Tendulkar's controversial run out during Kolkata Test

Sachin Tendulkar (L) and Wasim Akram (R) (File image) Photo : AP

KEY HIGHLIGHTS Wasim Akram made some revelations on Tendulkar's controversial dismissal during the 1998/99 test series.

Akram said that Sunil Gavaskar and the match referee had requested him to call back Tendulkar.

Akram refused to call back Tendulkar.

India and Pakistan matches are always high-voltage encounters. The rivalry between the two countries on the cricket field entertains fans. There are several incidents that cannot be erased from the memory of cricket lovers. One such incident was Sachin Tendulkar 's controversial run out in a test match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata during the 1998/98 Asian Test Championship.

Sultan - A Memoir ". Notably, the former Indian star batter was bowled on the very first ball by Wasim Akram was captaining the Pakistani team during the match. He has made some revelations on Tendulkar's dismissal in his autobiography - "". Notably, the former Indian star batter was bowled on the very first ball by Shoaib Akhtar in the first innings with a brilliant yorker. In the second innings, Tendulkar collided with Akhtar and was run out.

Tendulkar's runout sparked controversy. The match had to be stopped and the crowd at Eden Gardens started pelting bottles and hurling abuses at the visitors. Then Sunil Gavaskar and the match referee approached Akram to call back Sachin. However, Akram refused to do that.

"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," the former Pakistan captain said in his autobiography.

Akram told Gavaskar that he had his own fans in Pakistan also and they would hate him if he called back Tendulkar. "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," Akram wrote in the book.

Notably, Tendulkar was taking the third run when Nadeem Khan managed to directly hit the stumps. The former Indian star batter could have completed the run if he had not collided with Akhtar.

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