Rs 40 Crores Sachin Museum in Pune

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is a perfectionist and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has to put extra efforts to convince the little master to agree to the plan to set up a museum in his name. 

After the PMC standing committee chairman Ganesh Bidkar recently met Tendulkar during his Pune visit, the PMC is busy preparing detailed plan for the museum. The PMC is consulting experts on the final draft of the museum and its overall development which will be presented to Tendulkar along with the details he had asked for. 

Tendulkar asked me, why the corporation needs Rs 40 crore for museum? What will be done with the money and what is the plan to utilise it? said Bidkar adding that the Master Blaster was curious about the plan and categorical in his demand for all minute details about the museum. 

The corporation will present a detailed plan to Tendulkar and after his green signal will go ahead with the museum. 

PMC has two-acre land in Baner which has been acquired by the PMC under amenity reservation. The general body of the corporation has already approved the proposal and forwarded the same for the state government's nod. 

In March last year, the Maharashtra government in its budget had announced that it would set up a museum in Mumbai to showcase the legend's achievements. Finance minister Sunil Tatkare also made a provision of Rs 40 crore for the same. However, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation could not provide land for the museum and the funds remained unutilised. 

This prompted Pune municipal corporation to jump into action and in April this year the standing committee resolved to allocate an acre of land to the state government where a sports museum to showcase Tendulkar's career can come up. 

Sachin - "Before coming here I had a minor back problem and I thought whenever I play Pakistan I get a back problem."

Sachin Tendulkar, Sir Donald Bradman, Brian Lara and Imran Khan – Incomparable Legends

Also known as the “Little Master” of India, Sachin Tendulkar today stands tall as a true cricket icon. As his sporting career grew from a minor age of 16, Sachin has matured into a perfectionist and a true world class batsman, who has earned a fanatic fan following from all over the world.   

Lately, the player has been receiving numerous praises from cricketing legends and the international media from across the globe. During the recent Indian tour to West Indies, the Caribbean star Courtney Walsh cited him as the number one Indian batsman.

Skippers Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting too had heaps to add to the player’s goodwill, especially, after Sachin’s remarkable, record breaking double century against South Africa last year.

Not only within his profession, Sachin also holds a massive fan base from all over the world. Shane Warne, who ranked Sachin as world’s best player, quoted that “in India, people outside stadiums, waited for Sachin to come to bat before paying to enter”. With so much already added to his name, and definitely a lot more to come, does Sachin Tendulkar still come up to the mark that legends like Sir Donald Bradman, Brian Lara, and Imran Khan hold?  They say he led a team that came to be known as ‘the Invincibles’. Yes, Sir Donald Bradman, the greatest batsman the world has ever seen. Not only did Sir Donald earn his mark as a legendary cricketer, the Australian also grew into a brilliant administrator for the sport. In fact, Sir Donald played a major role in the development of today’s cricket.

Sir Donald dominated the early twentieth century. His batting skills were so consistent and indestructible that England’s captain Douglas Jardine came up with ‘unsporting’ and dangerous bowling techniques to reduce the Australian’s dominance.

Sir Donald is ranked as Australia’s number 1 athlete and in 1988 the Australian Confederation of Sports voted him as the greatest male athlete in the past 200 years.

After Sir Donald Bradman, Brian Lara is considered to be the only batsman to pile up massive scores in a smaller time span. Lara added two world records to his career in the mid 90s. These included highest test and first class scores. In addition, the star is regarded as the only batsman ever to score a century, a double century, triple century, quadruple century and a quintuple century in first class cricket.

Throughout his cricketing career, Lara has achieved numerous honors and awards that have earned him the title of ‘the Prince’.     

The charismatic and proud Imran Khan on the other hand, who found himself a place in the ICC Hall of Fame, holds a remarkable twenty-one year cricketing career.

Before taking up politics, as a captain, he led his Pakistani team into winning the first and only World Cup in 1992.

As an all rounder, Imran Khan holds brilliant statistics topped with an ever growing fan following. Within Pakistan and across the globe, his followers still see him as an idol of the sport with true professionalism and charisma.

With player like Sachin Tendulkar, it would be a little unfair to draw out comparisons. Over the years, Sachin has grown into more of an obsessive player. His physical fitness is true example of the little master’s precision and dedication to the sport. In his overall performance, Sachin holds 99 centuries, both in the ODIs and test cricket, and currently the record for highest number of centuries in international cricket. The Master Blaster also holds the record as the first batsman to complete 32000 runs.

Sachin Tendulkar, on his own, will always remain another legendary cricketer and a star performer. His technical strokes coupled with captivating wrist work have always made India proud. Despite his growing age, one may always expect more marvels to come from Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachin Bats for DRS; BCCI Remains Adamant

Despite Sachin Tendulkar coming out in support of using the Decision Review System (DRS), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) remains adamant on their stand of not being in favour of the controversial referral system.

A BCCI source confirmed Friday that they won’t change their stand on the DRS even if Sachin voiced his support for the technology after initial doubts. They also made it clear that there won’t be the use of DRS in the upcoming series against England.

The BCCI reiterated their stand on the issue that they have no faith in the DRS in its present form. They have a strong objection in the ball tracking system in the DRS which, they think, is not capable of making error-free decisions. That was the reason why Indian captain MS Dhoni called the DRS the "adulteration" of technology and human decision-making during the World Cup a couple of months back. Shashank Manohar, president of BCCI, had told a leading cricket website earlier, "I have even told the ICC that we have no problem with Hot Spot. Our objection is to ball tracking.... it becomes just a case of someone else`s imagination versus the umpire`s imagination."

At the first place BCCI wanted Hot Spot to be the part of the DRS system during the England series. When the ICC did not meet their demand, the Indian board decided to turn down the referral system.

Earlier on Thursday, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar had said that he is not against the use of Decision Review System (DRS). He said that he always believes the use of technology is good for the game. 

"I am not against DRS, but I feel it will be more effective with the support of the Snickometer and Hot Spot technology. This will give more consistent results," Sachin had told a leading cricket website in an interview. 

Sachin - "Beating Pakistan is always special because they are a tough team and we have a bit if a history regarding Pakistan."

Sachin keeps word, visits paraplegic centre

Standing true on a promise made to disabled soldiers at the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre (PRC) in Khadki, on April 21, Sachin Tendulkar visited the centre on Monday. The cricketer interacted with some of the basketball players, discus throwers and archer Amol Boriwale whom Sachin will sponsor for the Paralympic trials in Italy in 2011. Office Superintendent of the PRC RJ Manickam said, “At the video conference with Sachin on his birthday, he had promised that he would visit the centre. It was a nice gesture on his part that he visited us within a couple of months of the conversation.”Tendulkar met basketball players C Y Reddy, A D Pereira and Walsalan Nada and discus player Shymal Raju. Addressing the soldiers, he said, “I am happy that I could come to the city and meet everyone here. A lot of people think that as a sportsperson I am a hero but in reality sportsmen are just entertainers. It is you people who guard the national borders and are the real heroes.” 

Tendulkar also witnessed a basketball match played by the soldiers and planted a sapling at the PRC. As a memorabilia, he autographed a pair of his hand gloves for the soldiers. Speaking about the interaction with Sachin, Raju, who participated in 2004 Paralympics, said, “He is a nice sportsman. He told me to keep trying harder and participate in more competitions irrespective of the results.” 

Tendulkar, who also brought two boxes of mangoes for the soldiers, made it a point to sign autographs for everyone. “I am really proud of the spirit of the people present here. I have come here as part of my promise but I would love to come back again. In fact, next time I will bring my children. I remember being told that you all had prayed for the team to win the World Cup in April and it was due to your good wishes that we managed to do so.” 

Sachin - "At least with me, the match starts much, much earlier than the actual match."

I am not satisfied yet - Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar has almost every batting record that is there to be made under his belt but the iconic Indian cricketer says he is still not satisfied with his career as he considers satisfaction the beginning of stagnation.

"When you win something or score a century you say you are happy, but not satisfied. Satisfaction is like engaging the handbrake and hoping a car moves forward," Tendulkar told the latest issue of 'Sky Sports Magazine'.

"I am not satisfied yet with my career and what I have done, not at all. I feel the moment you start to feel satisfied, then it is only natural that you begin to cool down and lose it," he explained. Tendulkar reiterated that he is not even thinking of retirement despite completing more than two decades in international cricket.
"I still love cricket as much as ever. It is my job, but it is also my passion. Cricket remains in my heart, I don't need anything else to motivate me. I dreamed of playing for my country when I was young and it is still my dream, it is still fun for me," the 38-year-old right-hander said.

"Life without cricket is unthinkable," he added.

Tendulkar attributed his longevity and recent success to a stricter fitness regime, not playing Twenty20 Internationals and bowling only sparingly.

"I am still learning about the game. I figure something out about my batting all the time, you have to keep your mind open. I learn all the time, those small adjustments, with your footwork or bat swing can improve your game, I love doing that. You never know everything. Mentally that makes you feel so good. That is the best form of preparation," Tendulkar said.

Recalling India's recent World Cup triumph after a gap of 28 years, Tendulkar said when the defining moment of his career finally arrived, he wasn't in the middle of the field wielding his bat, nor was he even on the balcony watching his teammates.

Instead, he was on his own in the dressing room, his hands clasped together, his eyes closed as he prayed in silence.

He only knew India had won the World Cup when he heard that cathartic roar reverberate around the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai as his captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit the winning runs against Sri Lanka.

Tendulkar described the experience as "a different kind of feeling, a high, like living on a different planet, it felt as though I was flying."

He had waited 22 years for this moment.

For all his personal records - and he boasts the most Test runs and Test centuries, and the most One-Day runs and One-Day centuries - Tendulkar wanted something tangible, a trophy to lift, a medal to wear, and to win something as part of an Indian team.

Tendulkar had played in the previous five World Cups, but had fallen short each time. The experience left him feeling "shattered beyond words."

His fellow players too laud the way Tendulkar has sustained himself at the top level.

"It has been fascinating watching the changes in his approach," said teammate Rahul Dravid. "From being a master blaster, he is now a mistake-proof batsman."

While he can't control his body ageing, Tendulkar has increasingly sought to exert more control over his mind.

"You have to be still in your mind, and keep it blank.

It is also important to avoid any needless anger," he said.

"Growing up, I picked up a lot from my father, who never lost his temper, and I tried to follow that, so I don't lose my cool."

This impenetrable mask doesn't slip away from the cameras either.

"I have never seen him lose his temper in the dressing room, he has never thrown his bat around even when given out wrongly," said Indian pace spearhead Zaheer Khan.

"Maybe he will have an extra bowl of ice cream, and that is when you realise he is pretty upset."

Sachin -  "And that is the reason why this victory is great, because different players have made contributions to the win."

BCCI honours Sachin, World Cup Champions

The Indian team that won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 has been felicitated at the BCCI Awards ceremony on Tuesday in Mumbai. Each member of the team was presented with a cheques of Rs. 2 crore.

Sachin Tendulkar also received the Polly Umrigar Award for being India's best cricketer of 2009-10.

The twelve-month period saw him score 1064 runs from ten Tests @ 82, inclusive of one double hundred and five hundreds. He also scored 695 runs from 12 ODIs @ 69.5, inclusive of the first double hundred in ODIs by a male cricketer, against South Africa at Gwalior in February 2010. He also scored 175 in an ODI against Australia at Hyderabad.

Tendulkar received a trophy and cheque for Rs. 5 lakhs.

Former cricketer Salim Durani has been honoured with Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award at the fourth annual BCCI Awards Ceremony in Mumbai. He was presented with a trophy and Rs. 15 lakhs.

The Indian team that won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 was also felicitated at the ceremony. Each member of the team was presented with a cheques of Rs. 2 crore. The support staff of the team too were honoured and presented cheques of Rs. 50 lakh each as declared by the Cricket Board earlier.

However, former coach Gary Kirsten, mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton and bowling consultant coach Eric Simmons were absent. Among those present were members of the 1983 World Cup winning squad, including then skipper Kapil Dev, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sandeep Patil and Yashpal Sharma.

On the occasion, Dhoni thanked fans for supporting the team and said that winning the coveted trophy after 28 long years was a proud moment.

"I thank all of you for the support we got throughout the World Cup. Hundred crore people supported us in the country as well as outside. It was a great moment for us.

"When you play for the country, the one thing you want to win is the World Cup. It is a proud moment for all of us. The victory was achieved thanks to the combination of experienced players and youngsters. We exploited the conditions really well. It was a great moment."

The top performers in international, domestic and age-group cricket tournaments, in the 2009-10 (1 October 2009 to 30 September 2010) season are also
being rewarded at the function. 

Sachin - "I am sure this book would soon become a collector's item."