Tendulkar and Akram: Cricket rivals turned friends

Former Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar is known for his exceptional batting skills and holds multiple records for the most runs scored in both Tests and ODIs. 

He also holds the record for the most number of centuries scored by a player. Tendulkar had a number of intense battles on the field with Pakistani bowler Wasim Akram.

ALSO READ: PCB provides major update on Mickey Arthur

Fans of the sport were captivated when these two legends faced off on the pitch. Despite their fierce competition, the two players held mutual respect and admiration for each other. 

This was evident when Tendulkar contributed to Akram's autobiography, "Sultan: A Memoir," in which he paid a glowing tribute to his rival player.

In the book, Tendulkar wrote that Akram's exceptional bowling abilities brought out the best in him and remarked that "he made the ball talk."

“Cricket is a team sport, but everything goes back to the rivalry of batter and bowler, and in Wasim Akram, every batter had a wonderful rival - when you play against someone of that caliber, it lifts your game as well, and the experience stays with you forever. Wasim was a master. He made the ball talk,” Tendulkar wrote in Akram's book.

“His run-up was so natural. Unlike most fast bowlers, he didn't need to measure his steps; he could just start from anywhere and still be as effective. He ran through the crease so quickly you hardly had time to set yourself up. When I first faced him, I'd never encountered anyone like Wasim. Every game we played against each other I remember. and every time we meet now it is in warm friendship,” wrote the former India batter further," he added.

Reminder for all is that Wasim Akram is also known for his impressive record of the most wickets taken in ODIs and was the first player to cross the 500-wicket mark. 

He retired from international cricket with a total of 502 wickets in 356 matches, 414 of them in the test cricket.