'A schoolboy is scoring triple centuries' - Waqar Younis reveals how he heard about Sachin Tendulkar for the first time

When Sachin Tendulkar walked out on the field for the first time in Karachi on November 15, 1989 little did anyone know that he would go on to become the legend of the game. But the name was doing the rounds for a decent period of time already thanks to his heroics with the bat while in school. In the same game, another youngster from Pakistan made his international debut and he was none other than Waqar Younis.

Though it was the first time the pace bowler got a chance to bowl at the 16-year-old kid from India, Waqar had heard Sachin’s name during the U19 days itself. Recalling those days, he states that everyone was just talking about how a schoolboy was scoring triple centuries for fun.

“About Sachin, the entire India Under-19 team, they were just raving about him, saying how good that little kid is. He’s only a schoolboy, scoring triple-centuries at school. Who scores triple-centuries at school? Even scoring a century at school is an amazing thing,” Waqar said on The Greatest Rivalry Podcast.

What Sachin has done over the years is amazing, says Waqar Younis

Waqar Younis, however, admitted that he never thought that the kid who took the guard in Karachi for the first time in international cricket would become such a legendary player two decades down the line. He lauded Sachin Tendulkar for his achievements on and off the field and reckons that the hard work he put in paid off.

“We always knew there was this young kid coming on the block who was going to be amazing. At first look, he didn’t really give me the impression that he’s going to be the great Sachin Tendulkar, what he is today. What he has done over the years is amazing, on the field, off the field. At that particular time, I didn’t realise he was going to be such a big name in cricket. But his hard work paid off,” the 48-year-old added.

Interestingly, Waqar Younis is the first bowler to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar as the latter mustered only 15 runs in his debut innings. Moreover, the pacer had hit him on his nose as well with a bouncer. But the master blaster fought his nerves on debut and then went on to slam two half-centuries in the series.