Dubai, Oct 06: Sachin Tendulkar may have given a lesson or two in batting to Pakistan during his blitzkrieg in a World Cup cricket match early this year but a former Pakistani great still does not rate him as a "match-winner". Former Pakistan captain and speedster Imran Khan says The top Indian batsman was not a match-winner when compared to Viv Richards and he still needed to perform at crucial times.
"Both are talented but the only thing about Tendulkar is that he needs to be a match-winner," Imran Khan was quoted as saying in media reports here today.
"He must perform at crucial times when you need him to perform," said Imran. "My point is that when you compare Sachin Tendulkar to Viv Richards, he is not a match-winner. The greatness of a player is also to perform at the right time," Imran said.
"However, there is no denying Tendulkar's talent. He has enormous talent. He is one of the best timers of the ball," he said.
When asked to comment on the thrashing Pakistan got from Tendulkar at the Centurion during the World Cup, Imran evaded a direct replay and shrugged it off saying Pakistan has had a history of such thrashings. On Indo-Pak cricket ties, Imran Khan, who was here to attend a Dubai Cricket Council function, said he was in full favour of revival of bilateral series between the two neighbours.
Imran said the time was conducive now more than ever for the resumption of cricketing ties though the border tension had strained bilateral relations.
He said he regretted the fact that he could visit India only twice during his cricketing career. Bureau Report