'Wasim Bhai, please take me off', former Pakistan player reveals how Sachin Tendulkar smashed him

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The battle between India and Pakistan is few and far between these days. The eternal rivals do only meet each other in ICC events as the bilateral meetings are marred due to the political issues between the two countries.

But it is fair to say, the colliding of India and Pakistan is still the biggest commodity of cricket. Both in terms of the intensity and the quality of game, clashes between these two teams glue the entire world in front of their television set.

There are many many memorable moments from the iconic matches between India and Pakistan. And former Pakistan bowler Saqlain Mushtaq recently revealed one in a video podcast.

In 1999, the series between India and Pakistan amid the Kargil war is a classic one. From Sachin Tendulkar's heartbreak to Anil Kumble creating history - it was a once-in-a-generation series which has stayed in the hearts of the people across both sides of the border. In the first Test in Chennai, Saqlain Mushtaq emerged as Pakistan's hero as the hosts lost the match agonizingly.

And in the Nadir Ali podcast, Saqlain revealed an unknown story from that Test match.

"India vs Pakistan Chennai Test. There is no better Test in Pakistan's cricket history - it was rated the No. 1 Test. In the first innings, I dismissed Sachin in the first or second delivery. Next innings when he came to bat, which was at a very crucial point in the match, Sachin did not play a single shot for the first 10 overs. He observed all the tricks which I threw at him. I tried off-spin, doosra, top-spin, arm-ball, bowled quicker off-breaks, flighted deliveries... he just played me cautiously for 10-12 overs. After that, he started smashing me," Saqlain said.

"Then came a time when I went to Wasim Akram. I told him 'Wasim bhai... I think he is reading me well so please take me off and bring someone else. Akram told me 'Brother, no matter what, you will bowl from this end. I don't trust anyone else. If this match turns, it will be because of you'. I would give a lot of credit to Wasim Akram. This is the communication he and I had during that match."

But it was Saqlain who got Tendulkar out in the match as India collapsed from the brink of victory. Chasing 271 runs, India were rattling for 82/5, when Tendulkar emerged and smashed the Pakistani bowlers to rally them back into the match. Tendulkar scored 136 runs and he batted with an injured back. And Saqlain, who got his wicket to script a famous Pakistan win, revealed the strategy which got him Tendulkar's prized wicket.

"For the next 10-12 overs, I did not bowl a single variation to him. I kept him hooked to just one ball which is off-spin and set one field so that he forgets all that he saw and observed in the first 10 overs. I didn't show him the doosra - either at the striker end or the non-striker end. And when he forgot, I went to Akram and said 'I think now I have caught hold of him. I will now take a chance against him'. Then I bowled a doosra and he went after him. Sachin had scored a 100 by then and had hit him for almost 16-17 fours. India needed 37 to win with 5 wickets to left, and Sachin top-edged it and Wasim took the catch," Saqlain concluded.

India lost that match in Chennai but came back strongly in the next Test in Delhi. Anil Kumble was the main architect of the success as he picked up all 10 wickets to decimate Pakistan.