Retiring India batting legend Sachin Tendulkar will go down in history as an epitome of dedication and discipline, Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Secretary M P Pandove said today.
"Sachin would go down in history as an epitome of perseverance, dedication, devotion and discipline, so essential ingredients for achievers," Pandove said.
Pandove said Tendulkar's landmark 200th and final Test at his home ground in Mumbai would bring curtains on an "eventful era" of Indian cricket.
"With Sachin's last hurrah, a bright and eventful era of Indian cricket will come to an end. We at PCA, Mohali enjoyed his company and he in return showed great respect for the management and had recently stated that he would love to be here to watch the game with his family.
"We wish Sachin a very happy and purposeful retirement and hope that he would certainly give back to the game his rich experience in one form or the other," he said.
He also recalled having known Tendulkar from his early days.
"I have known Sachin from his younger days as he was a contemporary of my son, late Dhruv Pandove, with whom he shared the stage in junior cricket along with Saurav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and Vinod Kambli.
"My son and Sachin were very good friends and whenever my son came back from his camps, he would talk very high of Sachin as a player and a person," Pandove, who has also held various senior positions in the Indian Cricket Board, said.
Pandove also recalled meeting Sir Donald Bradman in Adelaide in 1995 and the latter heaping praise on the Indian batting genius.
"I had gone there as manager of the India youth team and Sir Don Bradman had come to our dressing room. During the discussion about young cricketers, Bradman stated that he had told his (Bradman's) wife that Tendulkar plays like he used to play in his younger days," he said.
Pandove was also the senior selector when Tendulkar was made the captain of the Indian Cricket team replacing Mohd. Azharuddin.
