Sachin’s has been a very different story: Waqar
Chandigarh: Pakistan’s coach Waqar Younis, who made his Test debut in the same match (Karachi, November 1989) as Sachin Tendulkar, saluted The Master in a one-on-one with The Telegraph, at the Taj, on Tuesday.
The following are excerpts
On Sachin still playing...
(Laughs) I quit eight years ago, did some commentary and, now, am the Pakistan coach... I seem to have tried my hand at all options, but Sachin is still at the crease! I’ve explored all avenues of staying connected with cricket.
Sachin the batsman...
Certainly the best I’ve seen... People talk of (Sir Don) Bradman, but our generation and the ones immediately before us didn’t get to see him... Sure, he has an astounding average (99.94), but of the cricketers I’ve watched, Sachin’s the best.
What Sachin has shown...
That if your talent is backed up with the hunger to make a mark, then you’ll succeed... In the past 20-25 years, I’ve seen a number of cricketers with so much talent, but many of them quickly faded away. They neither had the hunger nor the discipline... They just didn’t push themselves. Sachin’s has been a very different story.
Sachin’s USP...
Passion, the hunger... Sachin’s technique is very sound... Look, he has so much going for him... His dedication is admirable, for he continues to keep working hard... He has made the fullest use of his talent... He’s a short guy, but has done serious damage to teams.
