![Sachin Tendulkar [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1779886502380_Sachin_Tendulkar.jpg?type=hq)
Sachin Tendulkar [Source: AFP]
The allure of franchise cricket has sparked several intriguing what-ifs involving some of the biggest names of the game. While many dream-like collaborations did end up materializing, few possibilities remained confined to speculation.
Among those untold possibilities was one involving all-time batting great Sachin Tendulkar and the Big Bash League (BBL) way back in late 2013, i.e., during the formative years of the Australian T20 extravaganza.
In a recent explosive interview, former Melbourne Stars chairman Eddie McGuire stated that the franchise wanted to rope in Tendulkar for an exclusive one-evening partnership. Had the extraordinary move materialized, the cricketing world could have witnessed the surreal sight of Tendulkar turning out for an Australian team after retirement.
Official claims Melbourne Stars nearly roped in Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar was sought by the Melbourne Stars franchise to play alongside late Shane Warne way back in late-2013, i.e., in his retirement year.
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Ex-Melbourne Stars chairman Eddie McGuire lifted the lid on the explosive possibility, revealing it was part of a bid to fill stadiums with huge crowds.
During a recent interview on Melbourne Stars, McGuire said “I actually said at one stage, ‘If I can go and get Sachin Tendulkar, I’ll fill this ground five times over.’”
Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne eventually partnered in 2015, albeit for the Cricket All Stars series in the USA. While Tendulkar led an all-star team named “Sachin’s Blasters”, Warne led the “Warne’s Warriors”.
The Warne-led side won the three-match T20 series by a 3-0 margin.
When Tendulkar graced the Australian jersey for noble cause
In the year 2020, the former Indian cricketer took part in the Bushfire Cricket Bash in Australia to raise funds for victims of the Australian wildfires.
During the innings break in an exhibition match between Ponting XI and Gilchrist XI at the Junction Oval in Melbourne, the legendary Indian batter wore the Australian jersey and faced Australia Women cricketers Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland.
When Sachin Tendulkar played for Pakistan
While Tendulkar’s unexpected collaboration of playing with Shane Warne for an Australian team never came to fruition, the legendary Indian batter did play for a Pakistan team in Mumbai, under the leadership of Imran Khan no less.
Back in 1987, when Tendulkar was aged 13, the then youngster played for Pakistan as a ball boy in a very unusual and unexpected situation. The incident occurred when Imran Khan requested for an Indian substitute as the ‘Men in Green’ were short of a fielder upon returning from a lunch break.
In a simple substitute role, Tendulkar fielded near the boundary for around 25 minutes, a couple of years before making his international debut for India. As it happened, the Mumbai lad went on to conquer nearly all bowling attacks and became one of the greatest batters known to the sport.
During the fag end of his competitive career, he even lifted the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup in Mumbai, the same city where he was born and raised and where he had once played for Pakistan as a youngster.
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