Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan today backtracked on his comments made a couple weeks ago and called the Indian batting maestro a “real match winner”.
Khan, who gave away the Wisden International cricketer of the year award to Aussie one-day captain Ricky Ponting at a function here, said “there is no doubt that Sachin Tendulkar is a great batsman and a real match winner”.
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“The way he demolished Pakistan bowling in the World Cup in South Africa itself proves that he can win matches for his country single handedly and I was totally misquoted by the media in Dubai recently”, he added to a loud cheer from the crowd.
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Meanwhile, Tendulkar, who won a special award “the ESPN Star Sports Moment of the Year” for hitting Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar for a square cut six during the Indo-Pak tie in the 2003 World Cup, said that it was a welcome sign that the two governments have decided to start cricketing ties.
“We (players) are prepared to follow the Indian government’s decision on renewal of cricket ties, as it gives the general public a chance to witness some interesting contest between the two sides which is considered one of the best contests in the sport of cricket”, he added.
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Addressing a short joint press confernce with Akhtar, the Mumbai star said “when I was playing that (square cut six) shot, I never thought much about it and soon after playing that shot I was getting ready to face the next ball. There is no doubt that Akhtar is a great fast bowler but in cricket some times you win and some times you don’t”.
The first Indian to score a century against England during an overseas tour, Mushtaq Ali, gave away the award to Tendulkar.
Akhtar, who is facing a three match ban from international cricket for reported verbal abuse during the recent Pak-South Africa series, said it is good to be back in India as it was like a home away from home.
“I am also proud to be sharing the same platform as Sachin as he is a great batsman and I have been really lucky to be playing cricket with him”, he added.
Aussie leg spinner Shane Warne, who too is facing a one-year suspension for using banned drugs, won the Test bowling performance of the year award for 2002-2003.
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Warne, who received his award at the hands of another great spinner Muthiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka, told reporters “I have been playing cricket as straight as one could and the last few months have been really tough for me and my family”.
“However, I am looking forward to coming back to international cricket. I am very passionate about cricket as it has given me every thing I love. I am very lucky to be playing the game, be it for my country or for my club”, he added.
England captain Michael Vaughan and South African skipper Grahme Smith won the Test batting performance of the year and Young cricketer of the year awards respectively, but were not present to collect the awards as they are busy with internatioal commitments.
Indian vice captain Rahul Dravid won the Electrolux India Indian cricket of the year while Australian cricket team got the special achievement award. Aussie Andrew Bichel won the one day performance of the year award.
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