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Bapu Krishnarao Venkatesh Prasad announced his retirement today.

If there is one image of prasad that will be etched in my memory for ever, it will be him showing Amir sohail, the way to pavilion. That was 1996, world cup quarter finals between India and pakistan at chinnaswamy stadium, Bangalore.He was one of the main reason for the immense joy that many Indians felt that day. Another great cricketer hangs his boots.

India's 287 was a daunting total in those days, but Pakistan began well. Sohail and Saeed Anwar added 84 in 10 overs before Anwar was out for 48, off just 32 balls. Then came a defining moment of the game, as hothead met hothead. Sohail, having smashed Venkatesh Prasad for a four to extra-cover, indicated to the bowler that the next ball would disappear there as well. Prasad, a mild-mannered man outside the field of cricket, glared at him, strode back to his mark, and rushed in. Sohail tried to make room for the shot he had promised, and the ball middled the off stump.

That was the decisive turning point. Prasad, mixing it up beautifully, then took the wickets of Ijaz Ahmed and Inzamam-ul-Haq. more

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