Senior BCCI official and IPL Chairman, Rajiv Shukla said that Sachin Tendulkar's decision retire from ODI was purely his decision and denied reports that he was forced to do so.
"There was no pressure on Sachin Tendulkar to retire from this format of the game. It is for the player to decide whether to retire or whether not to retire. I think he has taken the right decision at the right moment," Shukla was quoted in an Indian Express report.
"It is an appropriate decision taken at an appropriate time, that he will not be available for the one-dayers," Shukla said.
There were reports in the media that Tendulkar was forced by BCCI to retire from the shorter version of the game in the wake of his poor run with the bat. However, Shukla denied all such reports.
"BCCI's policy is very clear that it is for the player to decide when he wants to retire from any format of the game or from the entire career. It is purely up to the player. We don't force or advice any player. We don't mount any pressure," Shukla added in the report.
"I have seen many media reports saying that pressure has been mounted by BCCI or from the selectors, I totally deny those reports," he said.
Meanwhile, a report in The Hindu says M.S. Dhoni hailed Sachin Tendulkar’s “immense” contribution to cricket here on Monday, stating that the Indian team would miss his experience and guidance in One-Day Internationals after the latter’s retirement.
“As you all know, Paaji has announced his retirement from ODIs,” Dhoni began, in his address to the media at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
“We’re disappointed we won’t see his 50th century in coloured clothing or his 100th half century — he was four short. He’s been an inspiration in encouraging thousands and millions of people to take up the sport.”
The Indian captain acknowledged Tendulkar’s role as an elder in the team. “As youngsters, when we came into the side, it was important to see how he prepared himself for a game,” he said.
“For him for each and every game was big. At the same time, he showed us how to be humble in life and how to digest success — one of the most difficult things to do.”