Pakistan’s legendary fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar revealed that he was very sad after dismissing India’s legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar on 98, during their encounter in the 2003 World Cup.

The innings is still regarded as one of the finest of the Master Blaster’s career and was scored against the legendary fast-bowling trio of Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

The 44-year-old, according to News18, claimed that he would have loved for the ball to have gone for a six instead of ending in Tendulkar’s wicket so that the legendary batsman could have made his deserved century.

"I was very sad because Sachin got out for 98. It was special innings, he should have touched the century mark. I wanted him to hit the century. For that bouncer, I would have loved to see a sixer, as earlier he hit,” Akhtar was quoted as saying.

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The Rawalpindi Express believed that the Master Blaster could have made more runs if he had faced the bowlers of today instead of the legends of the past.

"Tendulkar batted in the toughest era of cricket. If he had to get the chance now, he may hit more than 1.30 lakh runs. So it's not good to make a comparison between Sachin and Kohli,” he said.

Akhtar stated that the crowds were an essential element of the sport and while hoping that the situation around the world returns to normal within a year.

"Playing cricket in the empty stadium may be viable and durable for Cricket boards. But I do not think we can market this. Playing cricket in an empty stadium is like marriage without a bride. We need crowds to play games. I hope the corona situation will be normalized within a year," he concluded.