If dismissing the world's finest batsman is not an incentive in itself, the United Arab Emirates bowlers have been offered US $1,000 by their officials for bagging the scalp of batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar in the Asia Cup opener in Dambulla on Friday.
According to Khurram Khan, captain of the UAE team, an official promised the amount (Rs 45,000) to the bowler who claims the prize wicket of Tendulkar, the most successful one-day batsman in the world with over 13,000 runs.
But the UAE captain admitted that money would not be sole motivation while looking for the Indian batsman's wicket.
"Of course I am overawed at the prospect of playing against the likes of Tendulkar," Khurram said.
"I don't think anyone would want to take that wicket for money alone. It would be a prize wicket like no other."
The UAE, whose moment of glory in international cricket came in 1996 when they played in the World Cup in the subcontinent, are looking to take a leaf out of Euro 2004 football winners Greece's book.
Like Greece, they want to make a mark in the six-nation competition.
"If Greece could do it, any one can, we were told," Khurram said.
"That's what sport is all about."
