Omar recalls 'special' moments with Sachin

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said he shared a special bond with batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, who will retire on November 18, as their children were born on the same day in a Mumbai hospital.
"You can not replace Sachin Tendulkar -- We will win matches -- but Sachin Tendulkar like personality cannot be replaced in cricket," Omar told reporters here.
Recollecting the special association with the cricket legend, Omar said, "There are two moments that I will remember for life. Sachin's daughter and my eldest son were born on the same day, in the same hospital in Mumbai.

"Our hospital rooms were next to each other. That time no one knew me; I had not entered politics. But everyone knew Sachin Tendulkar."
Omar further said, "When we went for birth registration, he was standing in front of me. While leaving, I just congratulated him, and he thanked me and left. I am sure he might not remember this, but I remember it very well."
The chief minister said "I had met him once then I was MoS External Affairs --- and he had come to South Africa to play a match -- our High Commissioner had hosted a dinner for him.

"I was also invited -- I got some time to spend with him -- I will not forget that day because one hardly gets a chance to sit near him and talk to him like this."
On Sachin's last test match and his retirement on November 18, Omar said "It is impossible to imagine that such an important factor, who has made cricket popular as it is on the world map, will be playing his last test match in few days from now.
"I doubt whether India or the world will ever produce another Sachin Tendulkar -- but I do hope that Sachin will use his immense talent to try and develop more cricketing talents in India.