Sachin's first Test rivals hail Indian maestro

Former rivals of Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday praised the Indian batting master on the anniversary of his Test debut against Pakistan 20 years ago, describing him as a genuine role model.

Tendulkar, who plays his 160th Test against Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad from Monday, made his debut as a 16-year-old on November 15, 1989 against Pakistan in Karachi.

Former captain Ramiz Raja, who opened the innings for Pakistan in that Test, said Tendulkar had been amazing on and off the field.

"We know what a genius Tendulkar has been but the way he has conducted himself off the field has been amazing," Raja told AFP. "He has been a great role model and there has been no controversy linked with him. It's amazing.

"Tendulkar is so graceful that youngsters will follow him in the years to come. His records will remain in the books, and may be overhauled, but his grace would be unmatchable."

Since making his debut, Tendulkar has scaled unmatchable heights, scoring 12,773 runs with 42 hundreds -- both world records in Tests -- and 17,178 with 45 centuries -- both world records -- in 436 one-day internationals.

Raja said very few people believed Kapil Dev's words on Tendulkar in 1989.

"Dev told us to watch out for this kid and described him as world class material but we thought a 16-year-old couldn't be world class and were of the opinion that Dev was praising him because he was an Indian.

"But when he showed confidence and hit Abdul Qadir for three sixes at Peshawar in a game, we realised his potential and the tour of Pakistan gave him the right kind of platform to build his great career."

Another former captain, Javed Miandad, advised young people to follow Tendulkar's example.

"Tendulkar is a genuine role model for youth of the world," said Miandad, himself a great batsman. "The way he projects himself off and on the field is remarkable and a lesson for others."

Miandad singled out Tendulkar's passion for cricket.

"I remember Tendulkar dived and took a catch off the last ball of the 50th over in a recent one-day match against Australia, which shows his passion for doing the best for India, otherwise very few people do such a thing off the last ball."

Former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir praised Tendulkar as a great batsman.

"Tendulkar is unmatchable," said Qadir, himself touted as a magician of spin. "The way he batted on that tour of Pakistan and hit quite a few sixes off me proved that he will have a great career."

Tendulkar's rival in the first Test, paceman Waqar Younis, said Tendulkar was a genius.

"The way he bats no one can match him," said Waqar, who also injured Tendulkar with a blow to his nose in the fourth Test at Sialkot. "His passion for batting never waned even he was badly hit by one of my deliveries. He has been amazing."