'Yaar Rambo, why don’t you dive?’ - Sanjay Manjrekar recalls his playing days against Pakistan

Sanjay Manjrekar, the former Indian cricketer played for team India in ODIs and Tests, was a fine batsman. He featured for Men in Blue in many crucial and high-intensity games. Recently, he was involved in an interaction with Ramiz Raza when the former recalled an instance from his playing days of Imran Khan, who helped Pakistan in winning the 1992 World Cup.

The 54-year-old made his international debut back in 1987 and ended up playing 37 Tests and 74 ODIs. He was technically a very sound batsman, who had a decent record playing against Pakistan. He scored 367 runs in 13 games with the help of four fifties at an average of 33.36.

Sanjay Manjrekar and Ramiz Raja share their fond memories

In the recent interaction, Manjrekar picked one of the instances in his 13 matches against Pakistan that he still remembers. He threw light on an incident when the then Pakistan skipper Imran Khan asked Ramzi Raza in a cheeky fashion that why he is not diving in the field. He added the fact that it was interesting to watch a player once connected with British Royalty was speaking a language that Pakistanis could easily understand.

“One of the memories that I carry from the series [in 1989], is Imran Khan saying ‘, Yaar [Mate] Rambo [Ramiz] why don’t you dive?’ That is one thing that I remember because he was really frustrated with the slip cordon because of some drops and he wanted you to dive,” Manjrekar said while speaking on ESPNcricinfo official YouTube channel.

“It was very interesting to see a person who sometimes connected with British royalty and then come back and connect with a Saleem Malik or even speak the language that certain Pakistanis would understand,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ramiz Raja revealed that former Pakistan skipper had a very sharp memory, who always remembered which player dropped the catch off his bowling. He even threw light on the catch that he took in the 1992 World Cup in the final match against New Zealand. As per him, it was an easy catch but became very big as it was taken off Imran Khan’s bowling. He recited the fact that till date he can hear that shout from his skipper to catch the ball.

“This is why the catch that I took in 1992, it was such a sitter, but it became such a big effort because it was off Imran’s bowling. The only thing I still hear is ‘Catch it, Rambo.’ It’s a good thing I caught it,” he added.