Endulkar: Sachin’s career is fading fast

The Faisalabad Test will go down in the annals of history as another run-feast. But as I see the game, I fear this may just be the beginning...

The Faisalabad Test will go down in the annals of history as another run-feast. But as I see the game, I fear this may just be the beginning of the end of Sachin Tendulkar, the man we all respect, adore and love because of his tremendous natural talent and humble attitude.

The more I look back at his dismissal, the more convinced I get that the downhill journey for the little champion has started, because it has been established that, according to the laws of the game, he was not out as the ball had made contact with the right glove that was not in play.

What is even more mind-blowing is that he did not look at the umpire and immediately started his long walk towards the pavilion.

I am not willing to buy the theory that Sachin did not know the laws of the game. Having played for 16 years at the highest level and having led his country for a couple of years, Sachin knows all the rules by heart.

Then what prompted Sachin to leave the pitch on which six centuries and two 90s were scored? Hostile bowling by Shoaib Akhtar, or the tension-filled dressing room atmosphere that often gets on the nerves of the batsmen who start feeling suffocated?

Whatever may be the real reason, the fact of the matter is that Shoaib Akhtar literally exposed Sachin’s present-day ability against quality fast bowling during a spell that will certainly be remembered for long.

Even on a dead track, Shoaib was charging in at Sachin, bending his back and putting all his energy into his deliveries. One could see those terrifying, hungry and wild looks in the eyes of Shoaib when he reached Sachin at handshaking distance on his follow-through. (PTI)

Mohammed brothers don’t agree with Moin

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Karachi: Moin Khan’s sensational criticism of Sachin Tendulkar triggered off a debate here and among the first to react were the famous Mohammed brothers — Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq.

The famous former cricketers were unanimous in denouncing suggestions that it was the start of Tendulkar’s downfall and backed the Indian batsman to play in full glory for at least another five years. “Sachin is a great batsman, one of the finest in the world, and we are all proud that he belongs to the sub-continent,” former Pakistan captain Mushtaq told the media. “He has got at least five good years of international cricket ahead of him. He’s fit and all he needs to do is get back into form,” he said. Sadiq sought to defend Tendulkar’s decision to walk in the second Test at Faisalabad before being given out by umpire Simon Taufel off Shoaib Akhtar, saying perhaps he was not fully aware of the rules. (PTI)