Tendulkar was out: After Ajmal, Steyn brings Gould's umpiring under the scanner

South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn is convinced he had Sachin Tendulkar lbw as he approached the first individual double century in one-day internationals (ODIs) only to be denied by umpire Ian Gould's fear he wouldn't make it back to his hotel if he gave the India great out.

The historic innings took place in front of a lively India home crowd at Gwalior in 2010.

Discussing how tough it was to dismiss Tendulkar with England paceman James Anderson during a Sky Sports cricket podcast, Steyn said: "He scored the first double-hundred in ODI cricket, and it was against us in Gwalior.

"And I actually remember – I think I got him out lbw when he was about 190-odd. Gouldy was the umpire, and he gave him not out.

"And I was like, 'why, why did you give him not out!? That's so dead'. And he was like, 'mate, look around –- if I gave him out, I won't make it back to the hotel'."

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Last month, Gould, in an interview with BBC 5 Live Sport, had revealed that he would stick with his original decision, while referring to his infamously overturned lbw decision after Pakistan’s former off-spinner Saeed Ajmal caught Tendulkar on the pads, during the 2011 World Cup semi-final between the two countries in Mohali.

"When I gave him out at Mohali, I'm thinking this is out. I will sit here and guarantee you, if I see it again, I'd still give it out, simple as that. He talked to Gambhir and looked like he was going to walk out, and I'm thinking thank God for that, then he spun on his heels and made that T sign and the world stopped,” said Gould.

“Eventually, Billy Bowden told me 'It's missing leg, I need you to change your decision.' Well, no disrespect to him, but I was watching on a 90-foot screen showing me it was missing leg by an inch so I didn't really need his analysis. I've got a picture here where I'm looking slightly disgruntled or annoyed as I gave them not out,” he added.

After Gould’s revelation, Ajmal recalled the incident and agreed with the umpire’s assessment of the dismissal.

"It was straight in front and I was 100 percent sure he was out. Shahid Afridi, Kamran, Wahab and other players asked me was he (Tendulkar) out and I told them he is gone," said Ajmal.