Controversies
Sachin has been involved in controversies at various points in his career, including:
- Ferrari Custom Duty Incident: In commemorating Sachin Tendulkar's feat of equalling Don Bradman's 29 centuries in Test Cricket, automotive giant Ferrari invited Sachin Tendulkar to its paddock in Silverstone on the eve of the British Grand Prix (23 July 2002) to receive a Ferrari 360 Modena from the legendary F1 racer Michael Schumacher. On September 4, 2002 India's then finance minister Jaswant Singh wrote to Sachin telling him that the government will waive custom's duty imposed on the car as a measure to applaud his feat. However the rules at the time stated that the customs duty can be waived only when receiving an automobile as a prize and not as a gift. It is claimed that the proposals to change the law (Customs Act) was put forth in Financial Bill in February 2003 and amended was passed as a law in May 2003. Subsequently the Ferrari was allowed to be brought to India without payment of the customs duty (Rs 1.13 Crores or 120% on the car value of Rs 75 Lakhs). When the move to waive customs duty became public in July 2003, political and social activists protested the waiver and filed PIL in the Delhi High Court. With the controversy snowballing, Sachin offered to pay the customs duty and the tab was finally picked up by Ferrari. Tendulkar has been seen taking his Ferrari 360 Modena for late-night drives in Mumbai.
- Ball Tampering Charges: Television cameras picked up images that suggested Sachin may have been involved in cleaning the seam of the cricket ball in the second test match between India and South Africa at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth. This can, under some conditions, amount to altering the condition of the ball. The match referee Mike Denness precipitously found Sachin Tendulkar guilty of ball tampering charges and handed him a one Test match ban. With Mike Denness taking action against 5 other Indian cricketers on various charges, the incident escalated to a larger issue and led to Mike Denness being barred from entering the venue of the third test match. After a thorough investigation, ICC revoked the official status of the match and the ban on Sachin Tendulkar was revoked. Sachin's ball tampering charges & Sehwag's ban for excessive appealing triggered a massive backlash from the Indian public that the real facts of the case was never reviewed and the matter put to rest appropriately.
- Stranded on 194: In the first test match of India's historic tour of Pakistan in 2004 at Multan, the acting captain's (Rahul Dravid) decision to declare the innings with 16 overs remaining on Day 2 and when Sachin was still playing undefeated with a score of 194 ignited controversy. In meeting with the press that evening, Sachin Tendulkar responded to a question on missing 200 against Pakistan by stating that he was disappointed and that the declaration had taken him by surprise. Reflecting his stature in Indian cricket & his penchant for avoiding issues, the nature of the statement and ex-cricketers debating the merits of the decision as a reflection on Tendulkar & Rahul's relationship fueled the controversy. The controversy was so huge that it completely overshadowed one of Indian cricket's landmark innings by a young Virender Sehwag - a score of 309 which is the highest ever by an Indian in Tests. Many former cricketers commented that Dravid's declaration was in bad taste. The media noted at the time that the decision had apparently been made by Sourav Ganguly, and Ganguly himself later admitted that it had been a mistake. The wording of the statement indicating that it had not been Dravid's call. The controversy was put to rest when Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and the coach - John Wright spoke to the media after the team's victory and stated that the matter was spoken internally and put to rest.
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