Sachin Tendulkar stand unveiled at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and a nostalgic trip to the legend's knock 25 years ago

By K.R. Nayar

For those who have been part of Sharjah Cricket Stadium’s journey, it was a special moment on April 24, 2023. When the West Stand at this iconic cricket stadium was renamed as the Sachin Tendulkar stand through a special ceremony, it took many on a nostalgic trip way back to 1998.

 

Khalaf Bukhatir unveils the Sachin Tendulkar stand in the presence of  Nasir Akram 

Khalaf Bukhatir, CEO of the Sharjah Stadium, who unveiled the Sachin Tendulkar stand, has in the process done something remarkable not only for the fans but also for his father Abdulrehman Bukhatir, who created this stadium.  Nasir Akram, former Secretary General of Emirates Cricket Board and Executive Council Member of Sharjah Cricket, Mazhar Khan General Manager Sharjah Cricket and Sheila Razdan all of whom were present during the unveiling, were also at the stadium when Tendulkar enthralled the world with two of his finest knocks in One Day Cricket history twenty-five years ago. With pride, I can also claim to have been there to witness both these knocks. 

 

Sharjah officials who made it happen with Khalaf Bukhatir and Sheila Razdan 

Cricket loving tourists who visit the UAE make it a point to visit the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and recall those sixes Tendulkar hit off Shane Warne. Sharjah Cricket Stadium will always be proud of the fact that the 143 Tendulkar scored on April 22, 1998, and the 134 two days later in the finals of the Coca-Cola Cup, were both hit on this very ground. It was a knock that is said to have given nightmares to Shane Warne, one of the greatest bowlers in the world. Fans recall that knock as the Sandstorm knock or Desert storm knock. While reporting matches from this venue, there have been many moments that never fades from memory, and these two knocks surely stand at the top. It was a knock that inspired a generation of cricketers, which included Virat Kohli.

 

Given that this ground has played a big role in leading the way for many greats of Indian cricket, there is no better place than the Sharjah Stadium to have a Sachin Tendulkar stand. The icing on the cake is that the unveiling took place on Tendulkar’s 50th birthday.

 

Those days, the press box at Sharjah was not very far from the dressing room, and journalists could get a reasonably good view of players’ emotions and reactions from where we were seated. When the sandstorm broke out that afternoon, most players were shocked by its sheer force, although for us local journalists it was not a rare occurrence.  

 

Like Sachin Tendulkar who went on to scale great heights as a batsman, so did the Sharjah Cricket Stadium when it entered the Guinness book of records for most One-Day internationals played (244). 

 

Among the many memories of that day is one related to Australian pacer Damien Fleming who had got Tendulkar’s wicket after his knock of 143. When Tendulkar cracked 134 on his birthday on April 24, the whole team celebrated the team’s triumph and his birthday. Many organisers and journalists were witness to the Indian team’s celebration at the stadium, but amidst the losing team, Fleming, who had tried his best to stop Tendulkar’s onslaught that day, also had his birthday on the same day.

 

When Khalaf Bukhatir and Mazhar Khan presented his autographed picture to Damien Fleming in 2018

In 2018, when Fleming came as a commentator for the Pakistan Super League, Khalaf Bukhatir and Mazhar Khan presented him with an autographed picture of him (Fleming) in action bowling to Sachin Tendulkar during the 1998 knock. I was fortunate to be able to capture that moment on my phone.

 

Khalaf Bukhatir addresses the gathering during the unveiling ceremony 

Khalaf Bukhatir, after unveiling the stand, said: "This is our small way of expressing our gratitude to Sachin for doing so much for the game of cricket. Indeed, that was an incredible innings, and it was repeated in the finals. Right through the years of the now legendary CBFS initiative, we have striven here at Sharjah to acknowledge the services of many great players even after their retirement. We believe that as administrators it is our duty to pay tribute to those who have raised the bar and dedicated their lives to the cause of cricket, and we will continue to do so."

Tendulkar has time and again acknowledged these knocks at the Sharjah Stadium as special, and to have a stand in his name will stand tall among all the services Sharjah Cricket has rendered to past cricketers and continues to do for future cricketers.