Thiruvananthapuram: Former Sri Lankan explosive batsman Sanath Jayasurya said, on Saturday, that Sachin Tendulkar is the best player he has seen.
“Everyone knows what Sachin has done for cricket and for India.
“He is one player who is dedicated, committed and played with passion. I had played along with him for three years in Mumbai Indians and found him to be a very simple man and easy to approach,” Jayasurya said.
The former Sri Lanka captain is here as the chief guest of a cricket tournament organised by the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club.
Commenting on Twenty20 cricket, Jayasurya said that the format has its own pluses and minuses.
“The good thing is that natural cricketers will grow fast while some others can find it difficult,” said the 44-year-old.
The left handed batsman denied media reports suggesting there are ego clashes between the present crop of senior players in the appointment of former batsman Marvan Atapattu as the coach of the Sri Lanka side.
“This same issue was raised when I was appointed as chairman of selectors a few years back because there were several players with whom I played.
“There are no ego clashes in our team and it’s not an issue if the coach should be a foreign one or from the country.
“The main thing is that there should be a proper coach,” added Jayasurya, who is currently a deputy minister in Sri Lanka.
The former all-rounder also wished that when it comes to cricket, there should be a line drawn when it comes to on-field activity and discipline.
“Yes, the present Australian cricket team is a determined lot after suffering defeats in the previous Ashes and hence they are aggressive.
“The line should not be breached as far as discipline on the field is concerned,” said Jayasurya.
On his new role as a politician, he said he is enjoying every bit of it and is coming to terms with the job.
“I am enjoying the job of working for my people as it’s going to be three years now, I am getting used to it. I am helping my people and doing my best to see my area is developing,” said Jayasurya.
MCA to fete Tendulkar, also youngsters Prithvi Shaw, Mushir
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Cricket Association, which honoured Tendulkar by naming its Kandivli facility for him earlier this month, is going to felicitate him again next week at a function at its Bandra-Kurla Complex ground in Mumbai.
“We are going to honour Sachin Tendulkar at our BKC complex on December 3 and the function would be presided over by Union Agriculture Minister and former president of ICC and BCCI, Mr Sharad Pawar. We will be presenting Sachin with a painting which was not given earlier,” said MCA’s vice president Ravi Savant on Saturday.
“We are also going to felicitate Prithvi Shaw for his feat for scoring 546 in school cricket as well as the young boy Mushir Ahmed Khan who has taken 20 wickets in the Kanga League (G division) in the presence of Sachin to encourage them,” Savant said.
Tendulkar was felicitated at the Kandivli facility of MCA on November 11 before he signed off from cricket by playing in his 200th and last Test against the West Indies at Wankhede Stadium here.
Savant also said that the official unveiling of the BKC facility named for Pawar would also be held on the same day.
“We are going to invite all our club representatives, former Ranji and Test cricketers and the media.”
Savant also said that chemistry professor and Ramnarain Ruia College principal Suhas Pednekar, who is the recipient of this year’s Tata Chemicals Best Teachers award, too would be felicitated on this occasion.
Tendulkar has already received many awards, felicitations and honours – including being the first sportsperson to be conferred with the Bharat Ratna – since he retired from all forms of cricket last month at the end of a Test series against West Indies. (PTI)