``Sachin is the Ustad of cricket'' Zakir Hussain

``Sachin is the Ustad of cricket'' Zakir Hussain
Dharmendra Jore

Mumbai, March 1: Guess who was at the Wankhede Stadium especially to watch the master blaster (who didn't blast much today) Sachin Tendulkar in action? The tabla exponent Ustad Zakir Hussain who is apparently a great lover of the game and makes it a point to soak in as much cricket as possible in the five months that spends in India. The other seven months that he lives in the United States does not even think cricket, he rues.

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Tendulkar and Hussain both beat the leather but in their very individualistic ways. Hussain pounds it but gently, Tendulkar pulls and cuts but with immense strength. Both however mesmerise their fans in the country and outside it.

Hussain was at the Stadium, never mind that he was locked in a jugalbandi with the santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma at a concert just the evening before Tendulkars' -- and India's -- crucial day. And, he left soon after Tendulkar was out. ``I'm always happy to watch Sachin play especially a great innings. He's the Ustad of cricket. What is sad is that Sachin rarely enjoys proper sangat from the other end. His prowess is just matchless. I am proud that he has achieved so much at so young an age - and he has still to go further,'' Hussain told Mumbai Newsline. Though India lost the Test by 10 wickets, he did not return disappointed from the ground; the part played by Tendulkar gave him immense satisfaction, he said. In fact, he escaped the agony of watching India go down meekly as he deemed it fit to leave the Stadium moments after Tendulkar was caught off Mark Waugh in a splendid catch by Ricky Ponting.

Hussain, however, put forth an analysis of the dimissal. ``Sachin had attempted the same shot on the earlier ball as well, but his consecutive effort failed him and he ended up in giving a difficult catch to Ricky Ponting.''

Ustad Zakeer's observation that India needed to bat as long as possible and set Aussies a winning target of over 150 runs to turn the tables on the rivals, took the conversation to his deep interest in the game itself which apparently he played in school. ``Mind you, I have played cricket for my school. Though I stay in America for quite a long time, I make it a point to spend at least five months in India which gives me a chance to follow cricket.''

Does he think India will lose the series? ``No. We may not win, but I think we will draw the series 1-1,'' he signed off.