Mumbai: The Board of Control For Cricket In India on Thursday lashed out at the media reports which suggested that BCCI has been forcing the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar to retire after his 200th Test match.
The Board's secretary Sanjay Patel did not hold himself back and said that it is totally upto Sachin Tendulkar to decide when to call it a day and BCCI has never interfered in this matter and never will in the future.
He also went on to say that it is absolutely absurd and rubbish as the Board has never spoken to him about this and neither have they asked the maestro to decide on his career. Stating that he is such a great player, BCCI will never do something like that.
Reports were out in the media that some of the Board officials were of the opinion that Sachin is well past his prime and should retire from Test cricket after his 200th Test match against the West Indies next month. Patel was reacting to one such media report and the told the reporters that the ball was in Tendulkar's court to decide about his future.
The Windies are to play two Tests and three ODIs during their visit and the 40-year-old Tendulkar has played 198 Tests.
Patel also asked the media to stop speculating about Tendulkar's retirement and not to spread rumours and not to report with such wrong details.
Patel also went on to say that the Board will accept whatever decision Sachin Tendulkar takes on his career and it is upto him and the selectors to decide on it.