Durani asks Sachin to go for 400

The man who has been known over three decades for his towering sixes ' on demand ' has one very special demand from our master blaster Sachin Tendulkar.

Salim Durani wants Tendulkar to claim the record for the highest individual Test score, currently held by West Indian Brian Lara. 'Sachin has had an amazing career. He has broken every possible record in the book, and in fact has redefined the records in many cases,' said Durani. (Also Read: Sachin laughs off 'emphatic 100th ton' theory)

'He won the biggest prize in One-Day cricket, the World Cup for India, and now I feel he should concentrate on getting the 400 in Test matches,' he added.

'Sachin is God's gift to Cricket and more so to India, and I always thank the almighty that Sachin was born in this country,' he said.

Commenting on the latest fad to take limited overs cricket by storm, the IPL, Durani said that it is the perfect set-up for the families to come and enjoy the game. 'It's fun, and masala version of the game. The crowds love it, and it also gives youngsters a platform to showcase their skills against the best players from across the world.'

However, he added that top quality players like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman should avoid playing the IPL. 'They are players of great class, and should display their skills in the real arena, that is Test cricket. They have far superior skills than any contemporary batsman in world cricket.'

He found a special mention for hard-hitting all-rounder Yusuf Pathan. Impressed by his batting prowess, Durani said that Pathan should be nurtured well by the Indian team at the number 3 spot. 'Pathan has a great future for Team India, and the captain and coach should ensure that he is nurtured well.'

Sachin - year’s best cricketer

Sachin Tendulkar will be awarded with the Polly Umrigar Trophy for being the best cricketer during the 2009-10 season at the BCCI awards on May 31, the Board said. The World Cup-winning squad will also be felicitated during the function. During the 2009-10 season, Tendulkar scored 1064 runs, including five hundreds and a double ton, from 10 Tests at an average of 82. In 12 ODIs during that period, Tendulkar scored 695 runs at 69.5.Last year he also became the first to score a double hundred in ODIs, against South Africa at Gwalior in February. Tendulkar will receive a trophy and cheque for Rs 5,00,000.

Warne apologises

Jaipur: Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne has apologised for publicly insulting state Cricket Association (RCA) secretary Sanjay Dixit following an internal disciplinary inquiry by the franchise.RR Chief Executive Sean Morris said in an e-mail to RCA secretary Sanjay Dixit that the franchise had decided to take disciplinary action against Warne and the Australian has accepted it. “We have decided to take disciplinary action against the player,” Morris said in the e-mail.

Sachin bags World Cup trophy once again

The owner of a city-based gold jewellery outlet had his glitterati moment when he presented a gold coated replica of the World Cup trophy to Sachin Tendulkar yesterday. T A Sharavana, owner of Sai Gold Palace and ardent cricket fan presented Tendulkar with a bat, ball, and a trophy weighing 5.1 kg made of 4.5 kg silver and 600 gm gold.

Tendulkar and other members of Mumbai Indians were in the city for the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore and obliged to meet this special fan at the hotel where the team is staying. The little master was however taken aback by the gift Sharavana offered. "I have received many gifts from fans after winning the World Cup. All reflect on their love and affection, but this is quite special," said Tendulkar.

Sharavana said, "Sachin is the golden man of cricket. The gift, through small considering his stature, is from my heart." He also celebrated India's win  by offering a holy bath to the idol of Lord Ganesha at the Dodda Ganapathi temple at Basavanagudi.
According to a beaming Sharavana, 15 goldsmiths toiled for two months to prepare the trophy.

Sharavana said, "I had pledged that I would present this special gift to Sachin after India wins the World Cup. Although several people asked me what if we lost the tournament, but I was sure that we would win, and kept the gift ready." Sharavana even convened a cricket homa at which JD (S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda offered pooja on behalf of the Indian team just before the final match. He had also taken Harbhajan Singh to the famous Shani temple in Thyagaraja Nagar when the turbanator was in the city for practice matches before the start of the World Cup tournament.

Sachin Tendulkar and India govern Wisden's Test team of the year

Selecting cricket teams is not just an exercise for academics stuck in boring lectures. The dream team of world cricketers that is the Wisden Test XI, published in this year’s Almanack, contains five Indians, two South Africans, two England bowlers (Graeme Swann and James Anderson), one Sri Lankan and one Bangladeshi, which says a deal about the world game: the countries in which cricket is healthy and the ones in which it is not.

India are No1in the International Cricket Council Test rankings as well as the World Cup holders. One of their five players in the Wisden Test XI is Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has been their captain for a few years — and India still have not lost a Test series under him. Dhoni is joined by Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Zaheer Khan and Sachin Tendulkar, who is also Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World.

At the other extreme: no Australian in this year’s Wisden Test XI, no Pakistani, no West Indian and no New Zealander. And this is not narrow-minded, UK-based myopia. The three selectors are the Australian Ian Chappell, the Pakistani Ramiz Raja and the West Indian Ian Bishop. The editor is simply the convenor, with no vote except a casting one in the event of a tie.

No Australian indeed. When Jacques Kallis gets too old to bowl quick, Shane Watson is set to be his successor as the only top-order Test batsman who can bowl pace. Only a couple of days ago he showed what a striker he is by hitting 15 sixes and 15 fours from the 96 balls he faced in scoring 185 in a one-day international against Bangladesh.

Still, it is a bit reminiscent of the fate of West Indies. One decade the world champions and a side packed with great cricketers, the next decade floundering without a great cricketer — or a succession strategy – in sight.

In a way the future looks brighter for Pakistan than Australia. They lost their captain Salman Butt, and their two opening Test bowlers, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, after being suspended and sanctioned by the ICC.

They lost all their home venues, and the advantage that goes with them — and yet they still topped their qualifying Group A in the World Cup, and were knocked out by the holders, India, at the semi-final stage. Talented, resilient, and making the most of creative tension.

No Australian or Pakistani in the Wisden Test XI, but for the first time a Bangladeshi. One selector soberly opted for Andrew Strauss as the opening batsman to partner Sehwag, another for South Africa’s captain, Graeme Smith.

But when the third opted for Tamim Iqbal, I was swayed by the same giddy thought of both openers hitting a hundred in the opening session of the Test match against Mars, and a particular TV commentator at lunch on day one going mad and shouting: “Start the spaceship!”.

Sachin Tendulkar drives out retirement talk

He may not of made a century, but the  "Little Master" left the field with the only medal that had so far eluded him, as India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the final in Mumbai.

The 37-year-old could not be blamed for calling time on his prestigous 20-year international career, with many records to his name and even more trophies at his home.

But Tendulkar told CricketWorld.com, "No. This is a moment to enjoy and celebrate. It's not about what I'm going to do in the future. This is a special moment which I really want to enjoy and live it to its fullest.

"This was the reason why I started playing cricket. I wanted to achieve something, do something for the country. The process has been a long one and I've continued to enjoy my game. I don't see any reason why I need to change anything right now."

The 37-year-old said he was still "speechless" after India's success.

"I started playing cricket dreaming of lifting the trophy one day and that is where it all started," he said.

"I am speechless to be honest, to express how I feel. This is by far the best moment. This is the moment I have been waiting for, for such a long time, 21 or 22 years. It is really worth every bit of it. It is really, really special."

Miandad shows support for Afridi's comment

Pakistan cricket legend Javed Miandad feels captain Shahid Afridi's comment about aiming to make Sachin Tendulkar wait for his 100th international century shouldn't be made an issue.

"He (Tendulkar) will have to wait until after the World Cup to reach the landmark. We will try and make sure no batsman plays a long innings (in the semi-final at Mohali)," Afridi reportedly said recently.

"Don't take Afridi's comment too seriously. No captain or team will want runs scored off them. Every team has its strategy after all and Pakistan will try their best to restrict batsmen like Tendulkar," said Miandad, who figured in six World Cups (1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992 and 1996).

He resisted from getting into the merits of each side to name his favourite. "A lot of things are said about strengths on paper.

"On paper, South Africa were better than New Zealand. But what happened in the quarter-final in Dhaka? New Zealand beat the so-called favourites. All that matters is what you do on the day."

Asked whether he would unleash veteran Shoaib Akhtar on India considering that he's had some success against the neighbour, Miandad said: "It depends on his fitness and the pitch at Mohali.

"You chalk out your strategy looking at the strip too. Shoaib's a good fast bowler and well known for his exploits. He can be an option."

Ponting reveals that they will keep Sachin on 99 tons

Apart from aiming to do everything right with a view to pull off a coup against hosts India at the Motera on Thursday, Australian captain Ricky Ponting also has a prayer on his lips that Sachin Tendulkar does not get his 100th hundred against them.

"Sachin has had an amazing couple of years. His last 15 months have been unbelievable. It's absolutely inspirational for everyone, but we only hope the 100th ton doesn't come on Thursday. He'll be doing everything to make sure he gets it, and we'll be doing everything to make sure he stays on 99 for a bit longer," said the Australian captain.

All Ponting is concerned at the moment is Thursday's match and nothing less than a win.

"It doesn't get any bigger, playing India in the quarterfinal in India. It's one of the biggest games I have played as captain. It's going to be enjoyable and exciting. Like us they too will be a bit anxious about the outcome of the game as well," he said.

"Thursday's match will not be about individuals, not about Ponting and Sachin. India are one of the favourite teams, and if we want to win the World Cup we have to win on Thursday."