Veteran Pakistani umpire remembers Tendulkar’s ‘Desert Storm’
dubai -- Twelve years after that Javed Miandad knock that broke a million Indian hearts, the storied Sharjah Cricket Stadium, steeped so much in history, witnessed a ‘Desert Storm.’
And it was as if Mother Nature had contrived to make it all happen. There was a sandstorm but what was even more stronger and blew the mighty Australians away was a man named Sachin Tendulkar.
It has been exactly 22 years since that epic 143 by Tendulkar floored the Aussies and which came to be known as the ‘Desert Storm.’
Tendulkar, 25 then, smoked the Aussie bowlers to smithereens, two days before his 26th birthday.
Initially needing 285 to win, India had required 254 to nudge past New Zealand on net run rate, into the Coca-Cola Cup final. But the sandstorm meant the target was further revised with India needing 276 in 46 overs to win and 237 in 46 overs to qualify for the title tilt.
And though India lost that game but qualified by making 250-5 in 46 overs, that day, April 22, 1998, a Wednesday, is etched not just in the psyche of Indians but also for Pakistan’s Tariq Butt.
Butt, the UAE’s oldest and longest serving and most experienced cricket umpire, went down memory lane as he recalled that day.
Butt, apart from his umpiring duties — he was the fourth umpire for the match — was also the dressing room in-charge.
And Butt said he had never seen anything like it in his whole career and added that the memories will remain his whole life.
“It has been 22 years but it was the most memorable match that I have witnessed and I will remember it my whole life,” Butt exclusively told the Khaleej Times on Wednesday.
“It was a fantastic atmosphere at the stadium. This series didn’t involve Pakistan but still, if you look at the match footage, you could see that the stadium was full. It means people came to see cricket and Indian cricket,” he added.
And Butt, for whom the UAE has been home for 43 years now, and has a treasure trove of information on cricket in the UAE, came up with some interesting anecdotes.
“I was the fourth umpire as well as the dressing room incharge. And I was to take the match balls for the teams to choose. And when I took the set of balls, Australian coach Allan Border, Shane Warne and
Damien Fleming were there and Border asked me ‘Do you have anti-Tendulkar spray?’ And everyone broke into laughter. But after that, what happened on the ground, everyone witnessed it,” recalled Butt.
“And what shots he played! The sixes he hit off Shane Warne over extra cover, was simply outstanding,” he added.
The 71-year-old also recalled another instance just after the final, which India won by six wickets following Tendulkar’s 134.
“After India won the final, Tendulkar was in the dressing room with his feet dipped in the ice bucket. Shane Warne wanted to meet him. As Tendulkar came out, Warne asked him for an autograph on his shirt. And Tendulkar wrote: ‘To Shane. Wish you all the best for the future. From well-wisher Sachin.’ It showed that even a big player like Shane Warne, who is a legend, was a normal mortal in front of him,” revealed Butt.