India were supposed to tour South Africa for three Tests, seven ODIs and two T20 matches between November 18 and January 25. However, with the BCCI adamant on holding a West Indies series - two Tests and three ODIs - before the South Africa tour, an exhausted Indian side may find it difficult to face Proteas on their soil where the visitors already have a dismal record, says a report in The Times Of India.
“India have won just two Tests in South Africa and their ODI win-loss ratio, too, is far from impressive. With fresh pool of talents like Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay leaving a mark in previous home series and Champions Trophy, expectations were high from this current batch of youngsters. But it seems the Indian board is hell bent on adding psychological pressures of an unwanted home series against the Caribbean side onto the youngsters, only to facilitate a fading star by helping him reach another milestone,” sayd the report.
The board's adamant stand appears more foolish when Tendulkar himself has asserted that 200th Test is just a number and he has no intentions of quitting the game even after reaching the magical number. "Where is the rush? I don't think at this stage I need to do that," said Tendulkar when asked about his retirement plan.
Meanwhile a report in Hindustan Times says, the stakes hovering around the second Test against the West Indies, likely to be Sachin Tendulkar’s 200th, are so high that it has triggered a battle royal among state associations to win hosting rights for the landmark game.
“According to the BCCI’s rotation policy for Test venues, Bangalore and Ahmedabad are in queue to host the next two Tests in the country. While Bangalore should host the first Test, hue and cry surrounds the second Test. Mumbai and Kolkata, third and fourth in line according to the rotation policy, are both keen on hosting the game ahead of Ahmedabad, while the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) is not ready to forego its right to stage the big game,” says the report adding that after all, a player is slated to play the 200th Test for the first time in the history of Test
cricket. And that the player is Tendulkar, who has played 198 Tests, has only multiplied the hype of the milestone game.
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) was the first to throw its hat in the ring. The association claimed every city has the right to play home to Tendulkar’s grand achievement. “The Master Blaster belongs to whole country. I think Eden Gardens is most apt venue to host the historic match with the biggest capacity,” Biswarup Dey, treasurer, CAB, said.
Dismissing CAB’s claims, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) appeared confident that if the rotational policy had to be broken, the second Test had to come to the Wankhede – Tendulkar’s home ground.
Meanwhile a report in DNA says that even as Mumbai Cricket Association and Cricket Association of Bengal are fighting for the right to host the much-awaited Sachin Tendulkar’s 200th Test, how about asking the man himself where he’d like to play the landmark match?
Asking Tendulkar for his preference — and knowing the legend for his selflessness, he is sure not to make one — it would just be a respect, admiration, tribute or whatever you call it, to the person who has entertained the world over the last 24 years, amassing almost every batting record than one can think of.