Tendulkar forced out of third Test against South Africa

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Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar will not be a part of the Indian team for the third and final cricket Test against South Africa as he is still nursing a groin injury.

According to the BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah, Tendulkar has not yet recuperated completely from his injury to play in the third Test from April 11-15 at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.

"Sachin Tendulkar will be unavailable for selection for the third Test match due to his right groin injury. Sachin's recovery is making good progress but he has not recovered sufficiently to be available for the third Test," Shah was quoted as saying.

Tendulkar sensed trouble with his groin during the drawn series opening Test at Chennai.

"This decision has been taken to give Sachin the opportunity to make a full recovery from this injury. Sachin has a rehabilitation programme to continue with and will be monitored closely," he added.

I want to play 2011 World Cup: Tendulkar

New Delhi: The man Indian cricket missed in Ahmedabad against South Africa, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, has said that he will now weigh his career options series by series without setting a timeline for retirement.

Speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN's sister channel IBN Lokmat Sachin said, "Winning the World Cup is certainly still an unfulfilled dream and I would love to play in it."

Talking about his career and goal Sachin said, "I am enjoying my cricket at the moment, but don't want to think too much into the future. I have been playing almost non-stop for 20 years and want to focus only on the present."

About Harbhajan Singh controversy in Australia he said, "I defended Harbhajan because he had never said what he was accused of and I felt that if we players don't defend him this time, then when will we stand by him? It was not just important for us as cricketers, but it was important for all Indians staying abroad, not just in Australia."

"I just felt that Harbhajan was a teammate who needed support and I should take the lead," he added.

Asked about sledging on the field, Sachin said, "There are limits to everything which no cricketer should cross. Some things will happen on the field of play, everyone wants to win, and we should be prepared for it, as long as it is within limits."

When asked about the auctioning of players and will it destroy the soul of the sport he replied, "No, I don't think so at all. I never played the game thinking about the money I would make out of it, and neither do the youngsters today. This game has given me sleepless nights, just thinking of how I will play the next day. That excitement can never be measured in terms of money. Right from the start, all I wanted was to play well and score as many runs as possible. That has been my motivation, not money."

However, Sachin was critical of the media, saying that it had unfairly created the impression of a rift in the Indian team.

"These reports of senior-junior rift are totally false. In the team, seniors and juniors respect each other, and we all realise the importance of playing for the country. The media is damaging its credibility by giving stories without authentic information."

Sachin said that Brian Lara was the finest batsman he had played with or against." Ricky Ponting is good, especially when he is playing South Africa or West Indies, but not against India. Lara is a great player, a once in a lifetime player. He had amazing ability."

Sachin also said that he is very keen spending more time with his family, but will in some way be connected with cricket.

"The only thing I have known in all these years is to play cricket and I would love to be always associated with the game."

On Harbhajan controversy

First of all, Harbhajan hadn't said it. And what better time for the team to stand behind their team mate? Everyone's support was needed. It's just that I started it.

On Life after Retirement

Obviously, I'd like to stay associated with cricket. I don't know yet in what capacity. But cricket is my strength. I would like to stay with the game.

On family

I think it's more difficult to take care of me than my kids. I tend to lose my temper sometimes but my wife Anjali understands me. Everyone at home knows that nothing can come between me and my cricket.

Dhoni after Dravid, determined by Tendulkar

New Delhi: It was Sachin Tendulkar's great idea to make Mahendra Singh Dhoni captain of India'a One-Day team, BCCI president Sharad Pawar disclosed on Friday.

Pawar recalled how the Indian team plunged into a crisis in England last year with the then captain Rahul Dravid dropping first hints of his reluctance to lead the team.

"By that time, Rahul had told me he could not concentrate on his game and requested me to find someone else. Some of the selectors wanted Sachin to lead and I conveyed it to him. But Sachin said, 'please don't do this.' I asked then who should lead the side and he said 'give it to someone like Dhoni'.

"He said 'give Dhoni the opportunity. He has excellent relation with the teammates'. I told him I would not interfere but would definitely convey it to the selectors," the BCCI chief said.

Pawar also hailed Tendulkar and fellow senior players Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble for paving way for the youngsters in the Twenty20 team.

"I was in England when we were playing them. Sachin met me and suggested, 'I know you don't interfere with the team selection but you please tell the selectors not to include players of my generation in the Twenty20 squad. He said 'my generation is not fit for Twenty20, so give opportunity to the youngsters."

"Now who would come and say 'don't induct us', when that means losing a few lakh rupees? I think we are fortunate to have players like Rahul, Sourav and Anil. Their commitment is unquestionable," Pawar said.

Pawar praised Dhoni's leadership qualities after the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman led India to Twenty20 World Cup and the tri-series triumph in Australia.

"Dhoni as the captain has done extremely good. He can motivate and has a good equation with other players. He is also cool (under pressure)."

He, however, seemed more impressed by Test captain Anil Kumble, especially after the veteran spinner handled the Sydney racism row with great maturity.

"I would say Anil Kumble has been remarkable as captain. He is a good motivator and his behaviour was impeccable both on and off the field. In true sense of the term, he was an ambassador of the country and we are proud of the way he handled the entire issue," Pawar said.

During the racism row featuring Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh, Kumble's composure drew rich praise from all quarters.

Amid all the allegations and counter-allegations, Kumble's lone observation was that of the two teams fighting a no-holds-barred battle in the acrimonious Test, only one team played in the true spirit of the game.