‘Other Were Scared But Sachin…’ – Shoaib Akhtar Makes A Huge Claim On Sachin Tendulkar’s Playing Approach

India is going to kick off their Asia Cup campaign on 28 August 2022 against the arch-rivals Pakistan. However, global fans will be eager to see players from both camps in action after their last meeting in the 2021 T20 World Cup. 

Now, former Pakistan great Shoaib Akhtar came up with a huge claim against another Indian great Sachin Tendulkar. Shoaib Akhtar revealed that Sachin Tendulkar played him well in 1999. Even, he opened up on the Pakistan team during the 1999 and 2003 World Cup fixtures against India. However, the Star Sports network shared the video on social media where he was seen sharing this experience against India.

“This Pakistan team used to get to the ground against India with unnecessary pressure.” – Shoaib Akhtar

Speaking on that video, Akhtar revealed that Pakistan used to take unnecessary pressure while they faced India in World Cups. He said: “We, as (the) Pakistan team, used to play against India, why don’t you just play it as a normal match? We had come (into the 1999 World Cup) beating India in ODIs as well as Tests in their backyard. (It was) just the added pressure of the World Cup as well as the huge hype,”

He also added that the hype has created pressure on Pakistan over the years. “Pakistan team used to get pressurized by that hype. This hype was created by TV (media) and we all used to watch TV,” Akhtar added.

Akhtar also heaped high praises for Sachin Tendulkar. He said that during the 1999 World Cup, Tendulkar played him the best than the rest of the others. Other batters were frightened while facing him during that time. “This Pakistan team used to get to the ground against India with unnecessary pressure. We even choked in the 2003 World Cup. But Sachin played me the best during the 1999 World Cup. All the other batters were scared of me at that time. Many batters of the world used to stop moving their feet against me,” Shoaib Akhtar concluded.