On the occasion of legendary Sachin Tendulkar's 50th birthday, an iconic Sharjah cricket stadium stand was renamed after Sachin Tendulkar on April 24 (Monday). In a special ceremony organised in the UAE, the Master Blaster's legacy was honoured in grand fashion even though Sachin himself was not present for the ceremony. Sachin also has a stand named after him at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
"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," PTI quoted Sachin as saying.
"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," Sachin added.
Not only does it coincide with the Indian batting legend's birthday, but also with the 25th anniversary of his 'Desert Storm' back-to-back centuries against Australia in 1998 in a packed stadium.
The 143 he scored on April 22 and 134 two days later in the final of the Coca-Cola Cup, a triangular series between India, Australia and New Zealand, has been recorded in the books as a veritable 'Desert Storm'.
Tendulkar scored 49 hundred in ODIs played across 34 stadiums.
However, his seven at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, including the twin hundreds in April 1998, are lauded and celebrated by his fans around the world to this day.
Meanwhile, the 'God of Cricket' received a memorable present from the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) as a gate named after him and former West Indies captain Brian Lara was unveiled at the ground on April 24 (Monday). Sachin and Lara, who enjoyed immense success while playing in Australia, especially during their outings at the SCG, became the first non-Australian players to be commemorated in the aforementioned fashion.
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