Sports is not like a government job. You can't be forced to retire at the age of 60 and then go on to work at a private first till you are 70 or 75, says Virender Sehwag, adding that as long as you are fit and performing on the field, age is not a factor. “Look at Sanath Jayasuriya he played on till the age of 42,” said Sehwag, according to a report in The Times Of India.
Speaking about his fitness, the Delhi Daredevils captain said, "The rest period as instructed to me has come to an end. I can get back to training now and I am confident of being fit and prepared for the IPL.
Sehwag also said that he missed the moment of being with Sachin Tendulkar when he struck his landmark 100th international century last week. According to a report in Indian Express, a long-time partner of Tendulkar at the top of the order, Sehwagsaid, "I missed being in the dressing room when Tendulkar scored that 100th century."
Other news (TOI, HT, Indian Express, The Hindu, The Tribune)
Indian board to honour Rahul Dravid next week: The BCCI will felicitate veteran batsman Rahul Dravid, who recently retired from international cricket, here on March 27. “The BCCI will felicitate Mr. Rahul Dravid on Tuesday, 27 March 2012, at the Seaside Lawns, Taj Land's End, Bandra, Mumbai,” the Board said in a release. The ceremony will be attended by the Indian team, former captains and cricketers, members of Dravid's family, and current and former office-bearers of the BCCI.
Don't put pressure on Kohli, urges Sachin: Virat Kohli is being hailed as one of cricket's finest upcoming batsmen and senior India player Sachin Tendulkar agrees but he does not want the youngster to be put under too much pressure just at the beginning of what seems to be a promising career. “He is a very good player. He is a brilliant player. He has done well but all I can say is don't put pressure on him. Let him play,” said Tendulkar. “The pressure is off. It was a difficult phase and all had to wait for it for a long time. But it has made everyone realise, including me, that even after scoring 99 hundreds, it is not easy to score another one,” he said.
ECB refutes claim ‘telecast of county ties in India has opened it to corruption’: England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke has refuted criticism that screening of county matches in India has exposed it to corruption. Giles, who was unanimously reelected for his third tenure to lead English cricket, said there is nothing much that can be done to prevent it, as people will still watch it streamed illegally on the internet. “There is nothing we can do because people will only watch it streamed illegally on the internet instead. It is better for us to deal with the matter by policing our own people so there isn't the activity in our dressing rooms,” The Telegraph quoted Clarke, as saying.
‘Misbah's tenure as ODI, T20 captain could end after Asia Cup’: Misbah-ul-Haq's tenure as captain of the Pakistan One-day and T20 squads is likely to come to an end after the ongoing Asia Cup tournament in Bangladesh, with Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez's names being floated as replacements. Wellinformed sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board and close to the national selection committee said on Wednesday that regardless of whether Pakistan win or lose in the Asia Cup final Misbah would not be retained as captain of the ODI and T20 squads after the tournament. Pakistan's next assignment after the Asia Cup is the tour to Sri Lanka from late May.
Aamir to join PCB in fighting corruption: The PCB has decided to use banned fast-bowler Aamir in fighting corruption and warning the country's cricketers about the ill effects of getting involved in spot-fixing or match-fixing, the board's chief Zaka Ashraf said on Wednesday. “Along with Aamir, three other cricketers will also be part of the rehabilitation process. We are searching for a good psychologist and all four will undergo treatment together,” Ashraf said.
