Durban: Sachin Tendulkar has for the first time admitted that the match-fixing episodes in 1999-2000 had initially affected his game and the Indian team had to go through a difficult and painful phase as “spectators looked at us with suspicion”.

Tendulkar said he was not in the right frame of mind during India’s disastrous tour of Australia where they were thrashed 0-3 in 1999-2000.

“I can tell you that I was never approached by anyone, neither did we had any discussions about the same in the team meeting,” Tendulkar told former South African Board president Dr Ali Bacher in an interview for a channel.

“I remember that there was stage in 1999-2000 when it was very difficult as we were to play Australia. Before the series these things started making rounds. As a cricketer that’s the last thing I want.

“You want your beloved game to be as clean as possible. I wanted the spectators to enjoy the contest and not look at us with suspicion. To play well, players need to be in right frame of mind and I can tell you that I was not in that frame of mind,” Tendulkar said, recollecting the disastrous series.

The pain in his voice was evident as he gave the interview. “Every match you played people passed comments. That really hurt me and the whole team,” said the maestro.

Tendulkar felt that their historic 2-1 series win over Australia at home was the turning point.

“I was sure that we needed to put up a very special performance against the Aussies so that cricket lovers forget what had happened in the past, start enjoying the game again and move on. With grace of God we managed to do that.

“We lost the first match at Mumbai. But in the next match at Calcutta, we fought back from a very bad position and won that match to level the series. Last match was even harder.

“In Chennai while chasing a small total we lost eight wickets but won that Test match and series too.

“I was happy for the fact we forced cricket lovers to forget about that bad chapter.”

Recollecting the horror days of match-fixing, Bacher revealed that the South African Board was indeed approached by bookmakers.

“We were directly approached by bookmakers to take their offer to the players through team meeting. Those were days when in couple of ICC meetings, I had raised this issue. The issue was not properly discussed and I was told to get evidence and proof,” said Bacher.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) honoured Sachin Tendulkar after India won the one-off Twenty20 match against South Africa, on Sunday, for his contribution to cricket. It was also Proteas fast bowler Makhaya Ntini’s farewell match.

“I’d like to thank CSA for this gesture. It’s been a terrific evening. Thanks for the support, and finally to Makhaya, the great champion. Great bowler, great competitor. Never gave up till the last ball. Till the last ball you didn’t allow me to relax, now I can. He is a great role model for everyone,” Sachin said after the match.