The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) today denied reports that chief selector Sandeep Patil has told veteran batsman Sachin Tendulkar to consider his future after playing his 200th Test during the two-match series against the West Indies in November.
“There is no truth in the report. We have spoken to both Tendulkar and Patil, no such conversation ever took place,” senior Board official Rajeev Shukla told PTI.
Speculation was rife that the series against the West Indies could be the swansong for Tendulkar, but Patil himself also denied discussing the future with the senior cricketer.
“It’s always a pleasure to meet Sachin, but I have not met him for the last 10 months. I have not called him, neither has he called me. We have not discussed anything, It’s all non-sense,” Patil said.
The report had stated that Patil met Tendulkar after the BCCI penciled in an unscheduled tour against the West Indies at home in November comprising a two-Test series and a three-game ODI rubber.
It also hinted that Patil had told Tendulkar that the selectors will decide the batsman’s future after his much-awaited 200th Test appearance, which is expected to happen in the two-match home series against the West Indies.
Tendulkar has appeared in 198 Tests, the most by any cricketer in the game’s history, notching up a mind-boggling 51 hundreds in the longest form of the game.
Besides he had also raked up 49 ODI centuries, a format from which he has already retired, to make it a century of international hundreds.
The 40-year-old batting great, who has scored close to 16000 runs in Tests, has had a lean run especially as per his standards over the last couple of years.
He has scored only two half centuries in the last 10 Test matches India have played at home, against New Zealand, England and Australia, and his last Test hundred (146) was in an away Test at Cape Town against South Africa in January, 2011, which has prompted questions on his future in some quarters.
He is currently gearing up to play in the Champions League T20 League for IPL holders Mumbai Indians with his first game scheduled against hosts Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur on September 21.