Sanjay Manjrekar recounts the 1989 Karachi Test - when a fan attacked Srikkanth and Kiran More kicked him while wearing his pads.
Cricket matches between India and Pakistan have always been filled with high-voltage drama, excitement, and passion. Along with the clashes between players, events often occur off the field that are remembered for years. One such incident occurred during the 1989 Karachi Test, which former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar recently recalled.
When the Karachi Test became memorable
Recounting the incident on Doordarshan's show. The Great Indian Cricket Show," Sanjay Manjrekar explained that it was the same Test in which Sachin Tendulkar made his debut. The India-Pakistan series was already being played in a tense atmosphere.
Manjrekar was fielding at mid-off when a commotion erupted in the stadium crowd and a spectator suddenly entered the field.
Attack on Indian Captain
The spectator was dressed in traditional Pakistani attire and began shouting anti-India slogans. He then ran straight towards India's captain, Krishnamachari Srikkanth.
In no time, he grabbed Srikkanth and began assaulting him. In the ensuing scuffle, Srikkanth's T-shirt was torn, and chaos erupted on the field.
Kiran More kicked while wearing his pads
- Manjrekar further explained that in this situation, wicketkeeper Kiran More rushed to the captain's aid. But the funny thing was that he still had his wicketkeeping pads on.
- More, in his condition, began kicking the intruder, leaving all the players and spectators stunned. Manjrekar laughed and said, "That moment felt like a local street brawl, not an international Test match.
The match resumed, but the memories remained.
Security personnel immediately arrived on the field, apprehended the man, and brought the situation under control. The match resumed shortly after and ultimately ended in a draw.
But this strange incident from that day remains vivid in the memories of Indian players.
Sachin's Debut and Manjrekar's Memories
In that same series, a 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar batted for India for the first time. Manjrekar said that while that match was historic in cricket, the incident in Karachi will always hold a special place in the minds of Indian players.
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