Karachi: Pakistan’s flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi led the tributes for India’s batting maestro, Sachin Tendulkar, who announced on Thursday that he would end his Test career after playing his 200th Test.
“Tendulkar has always been in a league of his own. I can’t compare anyone with him,” Afridi told PTI.
Tendulkar, who made his debut at the tender age of 16, is set to retire after he completes a record 200 Tests. He is the leading Test run-scorer with 15,837 runs.
“I have played a lot against him and apart from being a very affable and down to earth and nice person, Tendulkar is a true professional,” Afridi said.
“The fact that he has remained the biggest crowd puller and name in world cricket for the last so many years speaks volumes of his dedication to cricket,” Afridi added.
Pakistan’s former captain, Javed Miandad, who saw Tendulkar make his Test debut at the age of 16 in Karachi in 1989 said youngsters who play or want to play cricket the world over could learn from Tendulkar .
“I think Tendulkar has been the ideal role model in Indian cricket and that is why we are now seeing a new generation of quality batsmen from India,” Miandad said. (PTI)