SACHIN CALLS IT A DAY IN ONE-DAYERS BCCI Denies Nudging Master Blaster To Quit

SACHIN CALLS IT A DAY IN ONE-DAYERS

BCCI Denies Nudging Master Blaster To Quit

New Delhi: Sachin Tendulkar will never again be seen on the field in the blue Indian jersey. After a 23-year-long career during which he broke virtually all records worth breaking, the world’s greatest ODI batsman announced his retirement from the 50-over game on Sunday.
    “I have decided to retire from the one-day format of the game. I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cup winning Indian team. The preparatory process to defend the World Cup in 2015 should begin early and in right earnest,” Tendulkar said in a statement released by the BCCI.
    The board said the Mumbai maestro had spoken to BCCI president N Srinivasan and conveyed the decision. “I would like to wish the team all the very best for the future. I am eternally grateful to all my well wishers for their unconditional support and love over the years,” Tendulkar added.
    The decision came on the day when the selectors announced the ODI squad for the series against Pakistan, giving rise to speculation that Sachin was nudged by the board to call it a day. In fact, a BCCI source said Sachin wanted to play the series before bidding goodbye to the format. He changed his mind after getting feelers from the selectors that he won’t be considered for the ODI team on the basis of his current form. The BCCI, however, denied this and said it was Sachin’s own decision.
    The source added that Tendulkar was keen for a last duel against the Pakistanis. “It’s a marquee series and no player of his stature would say no to such a contest and retire on the day when the team is announced,” a source close to the team told TOI.
    Sources said two selectors—chief Sandeep Patil and Roger Binny—were in touch with Tendulkar and discussed the issue at length with him. The board insisted that Sachin has been contemplating retirement from ODIs for quite some time and had last week informed those close to him about his decision.
NATION'S FLAG BEARER FOR 2 DECADES Sachin’s stunning ODI records include most matches (463), most runs (18,426), most centuries (49) and most 50s (96)
First man to score 200 in ODI
Most runs (1,894) and tons (9) in a calendar year (1998)
While Kallis (aged 37 and going strong) is not too far behind Sachin in Test stats, no one comes close to threatening his records in ODIs
SIX OF HIS BEST (in chronological order) 82 (49 balls), March 27, 1994 vs NZ at Auckland: Opened the innings for the first time on Holi day and unleashed a stunning blitz
143 (131 balls), April 22, 1998 vs Aus, Sharjah: Singlehandedly took India into final. Two days later, scored 134 against Aus to help India win tournament
140* (104 balls), May 23, 1999 vs Kenya, Bristol: Rushed home from England after his father’s death during World Cup. Flew back and hit an emotion-charged ton
98 (75 balls), March 1, 2003 vs Pak, Centurion: In the ultimate high-stakes game, he piloted India’s chase of 273. His uppercut against Shoaib for six was one for the ages
175 (141 balls), Nov 5, 2009 vs Aus, Hyderabad: Almost took India to a target of 351 runs
200* (147 balls), Feb 24, 2010 vs SA, Gwalior: Became first man to score an ODI double hundred
    Stats: Rajesh Kumar & Anant Gaundalkar ‘He didn’t fit in ODI plans anymore’
New Delhi: Refuting claims that BCCI officials had been asking Sachin Tendulkar to quit, a top BCCI official told TOI: “It’s been Sachin’s decision to pick and choose his ODI series and today he has decided to announce his retirement on his own. There was no pressure from BCCI. He played cricket on his own terms and no one influenced his decision.”
    Reacting to the decision, Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI’s chief administrative officer, said: “I won't say it is a shocker because he has also been thinking about this, waiting for the right time to call it a day. Today, he has expressed his desire to retire from the One-day format, and the BCCI really respects his wishes.”
    A BCCI source, however, said Sachin was no longer fitting in the scheme of things in the ODIs. “One, he was picking and choosing his ODI contests which wasn’t allowing the team to settle with a combination. Two, the selectors were keen to give young players more opportunities keeping the 2015 World Cup in mind,” he said.
    The selectors, according to sources, want Sachin to play Ranji Trophy before the Australia Tests. “They respect his abilities, but you need to keep performing no matter how big you are,” another source said.

FINEST HOUR: Sachin after India won the 2011 World Cup. He retired on Sunday with a record 49 ODI centuries