Former Pakistan cricketers shower praise on Tendulkar

Karachi, December 20, 2010 (PTI): Pakistan's former Test players showered lot of praise on Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar for becoming the first man to score 50 Test hundreds.

"Tendulkar can now rightly lay claim to the title of being the greatest batsman in cricket history," said former captain Rashid Latif.

"And if some people argue about his greatness then there are certainly no arguments about his being the most prolific, he is a complete run machine and his 50th Test hundred is a testimony of his endurance and passion for the sport," Rashid added.

Another former captain Javed Miandad, who played in the Test match at Karachi in 1989 in which Tendulkar made his debut, said he was happy for Tendulkar.

"It was clear to us even when he walked out to bat in that Test as a teenager that he had talent. The fact that he has been around for 21 years and done justice to that god gifted talent in both forms of the game is an achievement any cricketer would be proud off," Miandad said.

Miandad also said he didn't see Tendulkar's record of 50 Test hundreds being broken by anyone in the future.

"It would be very difficult for anyone to reach this pinnacle of Test cricket."

Pakistan's Hanif Muhammad - who turns 76 on Tuesday - paid tribute to the veteran batsman, saying that he makes it a point to watch cricket when Tendulkar is batting in Test matches.

"I try to watch the matches in which he is playing because I have not seen anyone gifted with such natural technical batting excellence, which he has combined with his hard work and commitment. He is indeed a phenomena and a role model for every young batsman," Hanif said.

Former Pakistani wicketkeeper and captain Moin Khan said he had played a lot against Tendulkar and he admired his competitiveness and hunger for runs.

"He was always competitive but also polite on the field and I think he is the role model for young cricketers. He also highlights the fact that as long as a player has passion for cricket and confidence in his skills and is fit, age is never a barrier in international cricket," Moin said.

Former Pakistan batsman and selector Shoaib Muhammad, who played in Tendulkar's debut Test, said the champion batsman had achieved phenomenal success because he really worked hard on his batting and fitness and was someone who had the ability to score anywhere in the world.

Shoaib described Tendulkar as the most complete batsman of his time, and arguably the biggest cricket icon as well.

"I have watched him play all these years closely and his batting is still so pure based on perfect balance and little movement and precision in strokes," Shoaib said.

"I think there is a lesson in this new world record for every batsman about how important it is to maintain consistency in your game even after so many years in international cricket," he said.

Former Test pacer Jalaluddin advised the Pakistani batsmen to learn a lesson from Tendulkar's technique and achievements and bring a more consistent approach to their batting.

"I think every country wants to have a batsman like Tendulkar. But such a player come only once in decades. His greatness is he has realised the responsibility on him to keep on scoring runs for India and to break record after record," Jalaluddin noted.

Former Test batsman Basit Ali pointed out that India had produced many world class batsmen but none of them could match the perseverance and hunger for runs shown by Tendulkar.

"It is true that players now get more matches to play in their career but it takes a lot of hardwork to keep going for 21 years and keep on scoring runs in tons which he has done," Basit said.