Sanjay Manjrekar, cricketer-turned commentator, has for long considered former Pakistan captain Imran Khan as his idol. (South Africa vs India 1st Test Live Updates)
In his autobiography titled ‘Imperfect’, the former India batsman recalled one of the instances that left him in awe of the 1992 World Cup winning Pakistan captain.
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Recalling an incident involving India batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and Imran during the India-Pakistan Test in 1989 at Faisalabad, Manjrekar described how focussed the latter would remain on the field.
“In the Faisalabad Test, Sachin Tendulkar got light feather of a touch as he looked to work it off his hip. It was such a faint edge that no one appealed. Except for Imran Khan, who was at mid-on,” wrote Manjrekar.
{{/usCountry}}“In the Faisalabad Test, Sachin Tendulkar got light feather of a touch as he looked to work it off his hip. It was such a faint edge that no one appealed. Except for Imran Khan, who was at mid-on,” wrote Manjrekar.
{{/usCountry}}“At the end of the over, Tendulkar and I got together, and he said, ‘What a guy, what sharp ears’. He knew he had edged it,” Manjrekar added.
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Manjrekar had top scored with a 240-ball 76 for India in the first innings of the Test in which the visitors were bundled out for 288. His form continued in the second innings too, scoring 83 off 189 balls.
Imran, who had claimed 4/45 in the first innings, had a torrid time in the second as he remained wicketless in the 27 overs he bowled, giving away 100 runs.
The Faisalabad Test in late November 1989 — in Tendulkar’s debut series — ended in a draw with Sanjay Manjrekar walking away with the Man of the Match award.