Sachin Tendulkar Birthday: When Master Blaster 'played' for Pakistan against India

Very few people are aware of the fact that Sachin Tendulkar first got the taste of international cricket when he took the field for Pakistan cricket team that was playing against India in 1987.

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar (Source: Twitter)

Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar turned 49 on Sunday (April 24). With hundred tons in his bag, smashing every record in the book, Sachin isn’t just a cricketer. He is considered the God Of Cricket. But there are still some facts about the legendary batter that fans are unaware of.

It’s a well-documented fact that India legend Sachin Tendulkar made his official international debut against arch-rivals Pakistan in 1989 in Karachi, but very few people are aware of the fact that the batting maestro first got the taste of international cricket when he took the field for Pakistan cricket team that was playing against India at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.

The 48-year-old recalled the incident in his autobiography ‘Playing It My Way’ of taking the field for Pakistan two years before his India debut in 1987. The India legend also wonders whether the then-Pakistan captain Imran Khan remembers employing him in the field.

“I don’t know whether Imran Khan remembers this or has any idea that I once fielded for his Pakistan team,” writes Tendulkar.

The Master Blaster further recalls that Pakistan cricketers Javed Miandad and Abdul Qadir had left the field during the lunch break. As the standby fielder, Sachin was asked to field for the visiting team.

Tendulkar also mentioned one incident on how he nearly took the catch of Kapil Dev in the match, but couldn’t get to the ball despite running a long way. He explained that if he had been placed at mid-on rather than long-on, he could have taken part in the dismissal for Pakistan.

The first man on this planet to reach 200 in ODIs. Happy birthday to icon known as Sachin Tendulkar. pic.twitter.com/DDm7abze7T

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 23, 2022

Notably, Tendulkar has the biggest records to his name and to date, no one has come close to it, hence fans in India reckon he is nothing short of a demi-god. Over two decades, Sachin has brought a smile to the faces of billions of Indians and has inspired many throughout his illustrious career.

During his illustrious career, Sachin scored 34357 international runs which include 100 centuries.