On his 50th birthday, the Sharjah Cricket Stadium dedicated a stand to the legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar. The United Arab Emirates venue staged a ceremony on Monday to honour the former Indian captain and declare that the “West Stand” will now be known as the “Sachin Tendulkar Stand.”
Along with being the famed Indian cricketer’s birthday, the event also commemorates the 25th anniversary of his famous back-to-back centuries against Australia in 1998, which he scored in front of a packed crowd.
Tendulkar scored 143 runs against Australia in a One-Day International at the venue in April 1998, the event was dubbed “Desert Storm” when match was stopped for 25 minutes by a sandstorm. India won the tri-series final against Australia by six wickets thanks to Tendulkar’s striking 134 runs on his 25th birthday.
The CEO of Sharjah Cricket, Khalaf Bukhatir, remarked, “I can’t forget his birthday celebrations. It mesmerised the whole audience and I feel lucky to have been there. That day is not just special to Sachin but special to everyone who witnessed it.”
“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,” Khalaf Bukhatir said while talking about the occasion.
When asked about the honour bestowed on him, Tendulkar remarked, “I wish I was there but unfortunately, I had prior commitments. Playing in Sharjah has always been a magnificent experience. From the electrifying atmosphere to the love, affection and support, Sharjah has been a special venue for Indian cricket fans and lovers of the game from around the globe. It has given us so many special moments. A big thank you to Bukhatir and his team for this kind gesture on the 25th anniversary of the Desert Storm match and my 50th birthday. Feels like the greatest 6 of them all.”
In honour of Tendulkar and West Indies batsman Brian Lara, the Sydney Cricket Ground unveiled a set of gates on Monday.
‘The Little Master’ amassed 49 hundreds in ODI games played in 34 stadiums, but seven of them—including the twin hundreds in April 1998—were scored at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, and they continue to be praised and remembered by his supporters all over the world. After a spectacular 24-year career and a still-unmatched 100 international hundreds, Tendulkar resigned from the professional game in 2013.
