Playing against someone of Akram's calibre lifts your game: Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Akram have been involved in many enthralling battles in the past be it in Tests or ODIs. While Tendulkar holds the record for most ODI runs, Akram is just one of two players to have picked up over 500 wickets in the format. Akram made his debut before Tendulkar, but the duo shared a healthy rivalry on the field.

In 'Sultan: A Memoir,' Akram's autobiography, Tendulkar has penned down a heartfelt tribute for the former Pakistan skipper.

“Cricket is a team sport, but everything goes back to the rivalry of batter and bowler, and in Wasim Akram every batter had a wonderful rival - when you play against someone of that calibre, it lifts your game as well, and the experience stays with you forever. Wasim was a master. He made the ball talk,” Tendulkar wrote in Akram's book.

“His run-up was so natural. Unlike most fast bowlers, he didn't need to measure his steps; he could just start from anywhere and still be as effective. He ran through the crease so quickly you hardly had time to set yourself up.

"When I first faced him, I'd never encountered anyone like Wasim. Every game we played against each other I remember. and every time we meet now it is in warm friendship,” he further added.

Akram (502) is only behind Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (534) when it comes to the leading wicket-takers in ODIs. Akram is the leading wicket-taker in Tests for Pakistan, having picked up 414 scalps in 104 Tests, since making his debut in 1985.