Sachin's DEN

Rarely can a run out have provoked a near riot in a ground packed with 100,000 spectators, but this was the deciding third Test in the first India v Pakistan series in a decade, and the batsman was Tendulkar. Chasing 279, India were 143 for 2 when Tendulkar clipped Wasim Akram to wide long-on. As he returned for the third run, seemingly in no danger, he slammed into Shoaib Akhtar, who had moved into position to back the return to the bowler's end. Shoaib, watching the throw a couple of yards beyond the stumps, did not see Tendulkar, who was also ball-watching, and the pair collided. To make matters worse, as substitute Nadeem Khan's throw crashed into the stumps Shoaib and Tendulkar were in a tangle with Tendulkar's bat flailing in the air. Steve Bucknor, responding to an appeal, referred the decision to the third umpire, who gave Tendulkar out. Pandemonium followed and play was halted for an hour. "Angry spectators decided Akhtar was culpable, and threw bottles and rubbish at the Pakistanis," Wisden observed. The damage was done and India never regained the initiative. Another, more serious, riot followed the next day, as India teetered on the brink of defeat.


Dalmiya, who is also president of the cricket association here, said afterwards: "The crowd felt there had been an injustice but there was no violence as such. In fact, they sorted out the few trouble-makers themselves. People were holding up placards saying 'Sorry' and Tendulkar was telling them to take the decision sportingly."