Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has joined the debate on Sachin Tendulkar’s future, saying the senior Indian batsman should call it quits at the top of his game instead of leaving himself at the “mercy of selectors“.
“Sachin is such a great player but I can only say if I were in his position, I would want to leave on a high and my greatest worry was that I should never be at the mercy of the selectors,” Imran told NDTV.
The future of Tendulkar, who has spent over two decades in international cricket, is being debated after he was bowled out thrice on the trot during the Test series against New Zealand recently.
Asked if a player of Tendulkar’s calibre could ever be on selectors’ mercy, Imran said, “No, but why put yourself in such a position. I mean Sachin, what a brilliant record he has. Would he not want to?
“Again I put myself in that position, my greatest worry was that I would not be able to perform best to my abilities.
So people will not remember me for when I was at the peak but when I was leaving my career.”
Imran said Tendulkar should be the sole person to decide his future.
“I think Sachin is such a great player and people are emotionally attached. I can understand the Indian public, who has been watching him for 23 years. They can’t imagine life without Sachin.
“But from Sachin’s point of view, knowing that the kind of pride that he takes in his cricket. There must be a time when he should decide that this is the right time to leave,” Khan said.
Imran also reflected on his own career and his decision to retire after the 1992 World Cup.
“The reason I retired was because I did not want to be at the mercy of the selectors. I wanted to go out at my peak. The only reason I kept playing was for the cancer hospital,” he said.
“The board of governance told me that if you get out of cricket you won’t be able to collect money. That’s the only reason for which I kept playing. Having seen those heights, I just did not want to be at the mercy of selectors or people saying it’s the time you should leave.
“That’s why I respect Sunil Gavaskar. He left, he could have gone on. Sunil had one of the best defensive techniques I have seen in a batsman. Given that technique, he could have gone on but he left at the peak,” he added.
Keywords: Imran Khan, Sachin Tendulkar
In the best interests of a team sport, Sachin should retire after a
home series. This will enable a youngster to make his way into a slot
which are few in Indian team. Sachin has been carrying a very heavy
load for years - he needs a break. Many says he has not won many games
for India - this is UTTER NONSENSE. On his way and up to now he has
many records - those contributed to wins for India batting at NO4 or ODI openning. His 200 in an ODI, a century in T20 and many other
centuries scored in the past.
Thing is that Tendulkar cannot afford to pick and choose which series he plays in. When he does this, he goes 'off the boil' and struggles for form when he comes back. He needs to be playing regularly so that he can hit the ground running when he takes the crease.
Dear Imran bhai
It is not in the hands of sachin any more. The corporates who have put their money's worth on his ads, hold the key to his retirement.
After all, he is only human. he wants to make some money for his old age and post retirement.why not we sympathise with him, like our selectors and BCCI?You were right in pointing to Sunil bhai in bowing out , when he could have carried on and on, for ages, with his technique.Indians would readily brandish you as jealous and so on. never mind such slogans. We are happy that there is atleast one person to speak the truth in this cricket crazy nation.
I think Imran's comments are fair. I do not see any jealousy there. It may be true that Sachin may still score a century or two or do well now and then. But what 's the point? What would he achieve by that which he has not achieved before?
Sachin's recent comment that 'he will play till he likes to play' or something to that effect is not fair. Is he not blocking the chances of youngsters in waiting? Sure, he has the ability to play till he is 45 or more. But, is it fair? Let him know that his failures will be magnified through microscope while his achievments will be taken as 'Business as Usual' . He should retire now and help Indian cricket by beocming a Batting coach'.
I think Imran's comments are fair. I do not see any jealousy there. It may be true that Sachin may still score a century or two or do well now and then. But what 's the point? What would he achieve by that which he has not achieved before?
Sachin's recent comment that 'he will play till he likes to play' or something to that effect is not fair. Is he not blocking the chances of youngsters in waiting? Sure, he has the ability to play till he is 45 or more. But, is it fair? Let him know that his failures will be magnified through microscope while his achievments will be taken as 'Business as Usual' . He should retire now and help Indian cricket by beocming a Batting coach'.
Frankly speaking ICC needs to fix the age limits like 20-20 for age not above 23
years ODI age not above 30 years, test matches not above 35 years and should
introduces Veteran Teams of Age Above 35 years until they ability hold bat in their
hands able to stand in front of wickets that will make every cricketer feel no regret of
retiring.
Who cares if India looses few matches in 2012-2013. Who cared if Australia lost or won few matches consistently, say in 1933. But only thing that remain timeless from that Era is Bradman's record. Sachin has earned himself the place that he could quit when he wants to quit. We should make sure that his records are in tact. We will be more proud even after several decades that an Indian holds most batting record than we won a test match on 2012.
please dont Take Imrans comments in the wrong way .. all he wants to say that tendulkar is such a great player that it wud be very unfair to be treated like saurav ganguly or sanath jayasurya who were forced to retire or didnt find place in the playing 11 in their final years . Let sachin decide himself if he wants to retire on a high or with a disgrace
Tendulkar should retire before people begin to ask 'why should not" intead of "why should"
We all agree that tendulkar is great batsman.But this is time for him to quit from atleast one format of the game. Since 2 years his contribution to the team is very low and he should quit and give opportunity to youngsters who actaully fill his position.
WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANY WAY ?!!!!!!!!!
Imran Khan has given a free advice to some one whom he holds in high
esteem. But, when the issue is viewed from an 'Ego Perspective' it
wouldn't be difficult to see through the JUST A FEW MORE BITES BEFORE
I ... aspiration of a lay mortal.'Bouquets or Brick bats' ... if
Sachin is willing to undertake the risk, I think we should leave it to
his wisdom. Only time can speak whether he will be squeezed out of the
Indian team in disgrace or he would retire in full glory. AFTER ALL
THAT IS HIS LIFE.
Don’t be at mercy of selectors,Imran’s advice to Tendulkar...I think not. It is rather selectors are under his mercy! Mr. T, with his past performance has been able to sway one and all by being in the team for more than 20+ years. There is no doubt that he is slowing as reflected by his recent past display. He should be magnanimous enough to make way for others. If not, none of his past performances counts but only his recalcitrant attitude will come to the forefront when his narrative gets written. Seems to me that he would like to quit with a fizz and not with a blaze.
I think Imran is wrong. Sachin is not keen on playing all the games. He
is not playing the T20 matches and gave room to youngsters. Same way in
most of the ODI games. Sachin is so honest and fair with others. He
knows when to retire from Cricket. He is still inspiring many youngsters
in India and also in the world sports.
I personally feel one should play for his country and one should not
leave at the high of his career because at that moment country needs you
the most...!!! you can serve your country in a best way.
Sachin is unique cricketer. Why not let him decide an unique way to say
goodbye to active cricket? I think he has travelled only 3/4 of his
career and his peak is yet to be reached. If he is fit physically let
him play as long as he wants. In politics and in no-age-restriction jobs
/assignments old people do not make way for youngsters. Why only in
cricket? We had enjoyed his cricket for so long. Let us show our
civility in openly not discussing about his retirement.
Imran's comment is out of jealous on Indians like past. Rohit sharma
plays for India why not Tendulkar ? Even when he scored 100 runs and
above (Eg.his 175 runs against Australia) Indian Team lost the games.
Can we remove rest of the team for these mistakes?Tendulkar's
capabilities are not ruled out and soon we can see his smashing
comeback.
Imraan took retirement and then came back to Pakistani team. He and others jealous of Sachin's achievements that is why they take every opportunity to criticize. I strongly hope that he will come back heavily. He failed against Newzealand due to lack of match practice.
Probably Imran Khan does not realize that it is Sachin who decides which
matches to play and which not. When he makes himself available he is
automatically selected - his form notwithstanding.
The God of Cricket
With out Sachin not complete the Game
In whole world ,The 1st name is Master Sachin in Cricket
An Indian we can proud of Sachin
Sachin,,is the God of cricket..How one can debate of the Legend's departure from cricket..He had have done a lot for Indian cricket and probably we can direct it to entire world...Still I am emphasizing that sachin has a very good technique and insisting that he could display his best even at his carrier peaks...No one has the right to speak about sachin disappearance from cricket...because there is nobody in the world who are levelled him...then How could one comment on such a great cricket personality.....Every Indian in India and the people around the world are emotionally attached to sachin and it is obvious that one cannot tolerate and even think CRICKET without SACHIN........WE ALWAYS WELCOMES YOU MY DEAR SACHIN....
I think Sachin should retire gracefully. Why he is blocking some good promising players. He has achieved every thing in life.
More or less what imran khan said is right. Well its time for him to
make a move. He has achieved infinite number of records so what else he
had left in cricket. He is not a reel hero in cinema who acts as a hero
till at the age of 60. He is the real hero on the field.
Anyways master of cricket make a move when you are the peak....
I don't think that there is enough cricket has left in Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar's pick and choose policy for the game proves my this thought.Can BCCI give freedom to pick series others'too? If senior players like Rahul Dravid and VVS had occupied the place of newcomers why can't say same for Tendulkar?
This statement is very unfair. Imran Khan himself played till he was 40 and experienced slump in his form before returning back. There are people who wait for opportunities to criticize Sachin. I can understand this too.
What is in store for Sachin vis a vis his career, time only will tell, but the views expressed here by Imran Khan on when to retire from the game- joining the ongoing debate concerning Sachin's recent dismissals- are interesting. Mention of his own and that of Gavaskar's considerations on such occasions made a delightful read too.
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