Imran Khan  
I first met Imran Khan in 1987 in Hyderabad, Sindh, at a World Cup game where I was working for Sunil Gavaskar’s Professional Management Group (PMG), writing match reports and “ghostwriting” Imran Khan’s column. He was captain, coach, selector, the entire PCB itself—too powerful and too busy. I approached him at practice where he was surrounded by admiring subjects, introduced myself and mentioned the column. It’s ok, he said, and added in a voice loud enough to be heard across Sindh: “How much am I getting paid?” Ask Sunny, I replied. I have no idea. (The two worked together with no hitches).

Sachin Tendulkar 
A Wisden Awards function at Wembley on the same (2002) tour ended late one night, the venue a longish drive away from the team hotel. As we boarded the bus, Sachin asked me if his wife Anjali could ride with us. She had come with some friends for the event and they had left early. It took a moment for me to understand what was happening. This was India’s most senior cricketer, not a schoolboy, asking for permission which he didn’t really need. According to team tradition, wives are allowed to travel on the team bus for official functions and social events. 
Sachin knew this, but chose to follow protocol.