Leave Sachin alone, says Intikhab

Former captain wants critics to stop telling batsman to retire.

KOLKATA: Sachin Tendulkar has done wonders for India which is in front of everyone to see and that is why people should leave him alone and let him decide when he wants to retire from cricket, according to former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam.

Alam was at the Eden Gardens as part of the silver jubilee celebrations during yesterday’s One-Day International (ODI) between India and Pakistan. Tendulkar decided to retire from ODIs last month but will continue playing Test matches where he has scored 15,645 runs and hit 51 centuries.

“I remember when Tendulkar came to Pakistan aged 16 and he hit Abdul Qadir for a couple of sixes,” said Intikhab. “Even then we could tell that the kid had a lot of talent. Now, he’s done wonders for India and been a great ambassador for the country over the years. Every cricketer knows when to retire and I think he should be left alone to decide what is good for him.

“Tendulkar, and no one else, should make the decision. He’s fit and has great passion for cricket and if you have both, I think there’s no harm in carrying on.”

Alam also lauded Nasir Jamshed for his third successive ODI century against India. The opener scored 106 yesterday to follow his 101* in Chennai and 112 in Dhaka last March.

“Jamshed has been injury prone but has worked exceedingly hard in order to get himself fit and back in the side. He’s very talented and I’m very pleased for him. Hopefully, if he keeps going the way he is, and keeps himself fit, he will be playing for Pakistan for a long time.”

Eden Gardens celebrates silver jubilee

Apart from Intikhab, other Pakistanis part of the silver jubilee celebrations were Mushtaq Mohammad, Sadiq Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmed, Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja.

Eden Gardens hosted its first ODI in February 1987 which, incidentally, was between India and Pakistan. The tourists won by two wickets after Akram took three wickets and Ramiz scored 58. Accompanying the Pakistan legends were Kapil Dev, Bishan Singh Bedi, VVS Laxman, Ravi Shatri, Kris Srikanth, Anil Kumble and Saurav Ganguly, the ‘Prince of Kolkata’.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2013.