Johannesburg, Dec 14: South African captain Graeme Smith on Tuesday termed Sachin Tendulkar as a "great ambassador of the game" and revealed that it was the Indian batting maestro who inspired him to become a cricketer.
Speaking at the official reception for Team India, Smith said, "He [Tendulkar] is a world class player and a great ambassador for the game."
"As a youngster I watched the games [he played] and that's where all my dreams started. You see the players [like Tendulkar] on TV and you think that I want to be like that one day, and here we are," he said.
The South African captain was just 11-years-old when Tendulkar first toured South Africa in 1992 after the latter’s readmission to international cricket and instantly became a fan of the Master Blaster.
Smith also praised Team India coach and former South Africa opener Gary Kirsten ahead of the well-matched series between the two sides. "Gary [Kirsten] was one of my heroes while I was growing up, so obviously it was great to get the opportunity to play with him," he said.
"He's a guy that I respect a hell of a lot and I'm sure the Indian team itself respects him. That respect will also go onto the field. It's about playing well for South Africa, but that respect will always be there," the Proteas skipper added.
