Sachin Tendulkar, widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, faced many formidable bowlers throughout his illustrious career. However, one bowler who always seemed to trouble the Master Blaster was Pakistan’s former all-rounder, Abdul Razzaq. Razzaq’s skills with the ball often posed a challenge for Tendulkar, and even after retirement, the Indian legend praised Razzaq for his greatness on multiple occasions.
Expressing his gratitude for Tendulkar’s recognition, Razzaq acknowledged the kind and humble nature of the cricketing icon. He mentioned that Tendulkar, the star with an enormous fan following, did not need to mention Razzaq’s name among the bowlers who troubled him.
Razzaq believed Tendulkar could have mentioned any other renowned bowler, such as Glenn McGrath, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Ambrose and Walsh, Muralitharan, or Shane Warne. Therefore, Tendulkar’s choice to acknowledge Razzaq was a testament to his greatness.
“First, Sachin Tendulkar was and will always remain a world-class batsman. However, with the star that he was and the kind of fan following he had, Sachin didn’t need to say it (that Razzaq was a tough bowler to face). I never understood Sachin’s need to take my name. He could have named anyone – Glenn McGrath, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Ambrose and Walsh, Muralitharan, and Shane Warne. So he didn’t need to,” Razzaq said on The Nadir Ali podcast.
Razzaq expressed his humility and modesty regarding Tendulkar’s praise. He considered Tendulkar’s words too kind and appreciated that Tendulkar had mentioned his name multiple times. He also revealed that Virender Sehwag, another explosive Indian batsman, was considered the most dangerous player by the Pakistan team, with Tendulkar occupying the second spot on that list.
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“It was his greatness. The words he chose for me – and I’ve said this earlier as well – he was being too kind. Not once; he said it quite a few times. Even Sehwag did. A bunny is someone who constantly troubles a batter. But I never gloated in it too much,” he added.
The story of Tendulkar and Razzaq exemplifies the spirit of cricket, where players acknowledge and appreciate each other’s achievements, regardless of the intense competition on the field. Their mutual respect serves as a reminder of the values that make cricket a gentleman’s game, fostering a sense of camaraderie and admiration among players from different teams and nations.
