Cricket should head in the right direction: Tendulkar

New Delhi, Aug 31 (PTI) Senior India batsman Sachin
Tendulkar on Tuesday said that people bringing disgrace to the
game makes him sad as it leaves a bad impression on cricket,
which should always head in the right direction.
"Yes. It doesn't leave a good impression about cricket
and cricketers. It is something one would like to erase and
make sure cricket heads in the right direction so that it
helps cricket to grow across the globe," Tendulkar said.
World Cricket has recently being marred by a spot-fixing
scandal after a British tabloid exposed a fixer predicting
no-balls bowled by Pakistani bowlers Mohammad Asif and
Mohammad Aamir for taking cash on camera.
In an interview to 'Times Now' on the occasion of 'Joy of
Giving', Tendulkar said his father has always been the most
influential figure in his life.
"My biggest influence has been my father. He has left a
huge impact on my life. As a child I learnt a lot just by
observing him. The culture and values of my family have made
me what I am," he said.
Tendulkar said the 1999 cricket World Cup, when his
father Ramesh Tendulkar died, was the most difficult phase of
his life but it was the strength of his family that helped him
to ride over that emotional crisis.
"It was the most difficult moment of my life. I come back
from England midway through the World Cup. But my mom, wife,
brother, everybody told me that my father would have wanted me
to go back and play and so I did," Tendulkar said.
Asked about his retirement plans, Tendulkar said he has
not thought of it yet.
"I have not thought about it. There are no retirement
plans, I will tell you when I decide," he said.
Tendulkar said cricket has always been the centrestage of
his life right from the childhood days as he had always dreamt
of playing for India.
"Right from school days, I had the love and passion for
the game. Playing for India was the ultimate dream. Whatever
happened in my life happened around cricket. It has always
been at the centrestage. Cricket helped me to grow," the
batting maestro said.
Asked about how his mentor Ramakant Achrekar, who used to
place a coin on his stumps while coaching, Tendulkar said
those coins are as good as gold medals for him.
"Those coins are gold medals for me. It was a huge
challenge for me to survive when he used to make me bat after
playing the whole day. He used to play coins on stumps and I
had to survive with around 40-50 fielders around.
"Any one caught the ball and I was out, so I had to play
carefully. At that time I was feeling tired but today when I
look back I realise how those things made me what I am," he
said. PTI ATK
RBT


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