When Sachin Tendulkar encountered Osama

Kolkata - While visiting a hospital in Pakistan, batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar encountered a child whose name made the master tremble with fear. The kid’s name was Osama – the same as that of Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden.

One would come across many such anecdotes about Tendulkar’s life in “The Peak” – a book by sports photo-journalist Suman Chattopadhyay which was launched by cricketer Yuvraj Singh at a glittering ceremony here on Sunday.

The book captures some rare and memorable moments of Tendulkar’s life through Chattopadhyay’s lens and the stories behind them in the master’s own words.

“I was spending some time with my children in a swimming pool when I saw some movement behind the curtains upstairs and heard camera clicks. I did not have to guess as he could be none other than Suman,” said Tendulkar talking about a snap that finds a proud place in the book.

“Suman is among those few persons who have seen me from close quarters since my early days. I happen to carry a photograph taken by him, wherever I travel,” added Tendulkar.

The photograph is of a young Tendulkar lying on the lap of his parents and adorns the cover of the book.

The peak has been scripted by journalist Sunandan Lele and has a foreword by former India cricketer Anil Kumble recapitulating his long association with Tendulkar. It also has special quotes by cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev as also iconic singer Asha Bhosle.