' The Legend ' to be felicitated by West Bengal government

Kolkata : The West Bengal sports department will felicitate milestone man Sachin Tendulkar in a befitting manner ahead of Mumbai Indian's IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on May 12.

State sports minister Madan Mitra told PTI on Tuesday that he had got in touch with Tendulkar who readily accepted the request and wrote in a mail that he was looking forward to the occasion.

"It will be a great occasion and we plan to felicitate in a befitting way for his 100th international centuries milestone," Mitra said.

"I'm looking forward to the occasion. I will be honoured to be felicitated at the iconic Eden Gardens by the chief minister (Mamata Banerjee)," Mitra quoted Sachin as stating in an e-mail.

Mitra on Tuesday met CAB chief Jagmohan Dalmiya to chalk out the nitty-gritties.

Mamata had earlier taken time off her busy schedule to be the chief guest in India's win over the West Indies in November last year and was seen sharing a great camaraderie with the batting maestro.

The state chief minister had earlier suggested Tendulkar's name for the highest civilian award -- Bharat Ratna -- after he notched the 100th century milestone against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup.

' The Legend ' still has a schoolboy's passion for cricket : Kelkar

Mumbai : The batting legend's love-affair with the Wankhede Stadium started when Kelkar selected Tendulkar and his childhood chum Vinod Kambli for ball boy duties outside the boundary line. During the October 17, 1987 ODI between India and Zimbabwe, it was the first World Cup match that Sachin watched in a stadium.

It is often said that Tendulkar never forgets those who have made a contribution to his cricketing career. It was quite evident on Saturday as the batting maestro immediately recognised Kelkar, and stopped for a while to exchange pleasantries. Kelkar, on administrative duty at the Mumbai Cricket Association for the Indian Premier League, praised Tendulkar's down-to-earth nature in spite of all the fame and adulation. "This is his greatness (Tendulkar). I haven't done anything great (giving him an opportunity to be a ball boy), but he doesn't forget the smallest of the things," Kelkar told MiD DAY.

According to Kelkar, only under-16 boys 'qualified' for ball boy duties, but he was keen on recruiting Tendulkar and Kambli because of their exploits in inter-school matches. "I see the same thrill and expression on his face that I saw when he first entered this stadium. Cricket is his only life," Kelkar signed off.

I'm a sportsman, not a politician : ' The Legend '

New Delhi : In his first media interaction after being nominated for the Rajya Sabha by the President of India, Sachin Tendulkar '  The Legend ' said while he will like make a contribution as a Member of Parliament, he remains primarily a sportsman and not a politician.

"It's a bouncer, but I'm aware of my responsibilities. It's a great honour for me, [though] I'm not a politician but a sportsman. I will like to contribute in whatever way I can," Sachin said about his RS nomination, which has been made under the quota of eminent citizens of India.

 When asked about how he handles the amount of success he has achieved in cricket, Tendulkar credited it to his upbringing and education. "My upbringing taught me to have a balanced approach. Education helps in balanced thinking. Educations helps you in becoming a better person. Keeping mind blank is important. You should focus on the present. When people say I am insane, I am in the present."

"When the President nominates your name, you are nominated because of your contribution. I was nominated because I played for India for 22 years. Great persons like Lata [Mangeshkar] Didi have been nominated," Tendulkar said.

But Tendulkar was quick to make it clear that the nomination can't come in way of his playing cricket. "RS nomination is a great honour, but it's not going to stop my cricket. Cricket is my life. All my awards are only due to cricket."

' The Legend ' deserves nomination for Rajya Sabha : BCCI

The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) on Thursday welcomed the government's nomination of Sachin Tendulkar as a member of the Rajya Sabha, saying that the iconic batsman deserves such an honour.

BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Prof. Ratnakar Shetty told PTI that the Board was happy with the government's move.

"We (BCCI) are happy that Tendulkar's services as a sportsperson has been recognised. He's been a true ambassador for the country and he deserves it," he said.

Tendulkar is among four eminent persons who have been recommended for nomination as members of the Rajya Sabha. 39-year-old Tendulkar can become a member of Parliament under a provision of the Constitution that allows the President to nominate 12 members to the Upper House.

Tendulkar's nomination to Rajya Sabha has come as a surprise against the backdrop of a long-standing demand for conferring of Bharat Ratna on him for his contribution to the game. He completed the historic achievement of scoring 100 international centuries in March this year.

He would be the first active sportsman and cricketer to be nominated to Rajya Sabha.

SACHIN TENDULKAR - ' The Legend ' of Cricket

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (born 24 April 1973) is an Indian cricketer. He holds several batting records, including the most Test centuries and the most one-day international centuries, and was rated in 2002 by Wisden as the second greatest Test batsman ever, after Sir Don Bradman. He received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting honour, for 1997-1998, and the civilian award Padma Shri in 1999. Tendulkar was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997.