The Hindu : Sport : Tendulkar vows to help blast victims

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Friday, Jul 14, 2006

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Tendulkar vows to help blast victims

NEW DELHI: Indian cricket star Sachin Tendulkar promised on Thursday to help the victims of Mumbai's train blasts and hoped his home city would soon return to normal.

``The damage is irreparable but we have to make life better for the victims of the blast,'' a visibly shaken Tendulkar told reporters in New Delhi. ``It was an extremely unfortunate incident, the serial blasts. I am in talks with certain people but at this point of time, I think I can't disclose much about it. There are other responsible persons also who are joining hands to fight the situation.''

More than 200 people were killed and almost 800 wounded in a series of blasts on Mumbai's rail network on Tuesday, the day Tendulkar returned from a tour of England.

The 33-year-old, who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury since March, hopes to return to international cricket next month when India plays a limited-overs tri-series in Sri Lanka.

Mumbai's response

Tendulkar, regarded as one of the game's leading batsmen, said he felt proud of the way Mumbai residents had responded to the tragedy.

``It was very sad that so many innocent lives were lost in the blasts. But again, it showed the strength of the people of Mumbai,'' he said.

``Despite the blasts people were out next morning, going to work. Common people came forward to help each other, irrespective of whether the person was known or a stranger. This is our greatest strength and this probably happens only in India.

``We need to stay together, help each other and fight it together. That's our biggest strength and we can overcome such a crisis only with a joint effort.''

Feeling good

Tendulkar said he has fully recovered from the shoulder surgery he underwent in April. ``I am feeling quite good but there is a fitness test to be done before I know if I will play in Sri Lanka,'' he said.

Meanwhile, a decision on when Tendulkar would undergo a fitness test is likely to be made on Friday after the BCCI officials meet physio John Gloster.

``We will discuss Tendulkar's fitness test with Gloster. A decision may be made tomorrow,'' BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah told PTI over phone.

The team for the tri-series is slated to be picked in Mumbai on July 20 and it is speculated that Tendulkar may be included in the squad subject to his passing the fitness test at a later date.

The tri-series, also involving South Africa, will be held in Colombo from August 14 to 29.

Skipper Rahul Dravid will fly to Mumbai for the meeting of the five-member selection committee headed by former wicketkeeper Kiran More.

However, coach Greg Chappell would not be able to attend the meeting as he is on a vacation.

Tendulkar himself refused to put a date to his return to action.

No head-butting

Talking of the now infamous Zinedine Zidane head-butt during the football World Cup final, Tendulkar said he never felt the need to do a similar thing.

``I can't comment on Zidane's head-butt, for I was in London and he was playing in Berlin,'' he said, trying to evade the question.

Pressed further whether he was similarly provoked by the opposing teams ever, Sachin, admired as much for his cricketing skills on field as for his impeccable demeanour off it, said, ``well, I never felt or thought about head-butting, so far.''

Kumble the greatest

Meanwhile the veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble drew rich tribute from Tendulkar who described the spinner as the greatest bowler India has ever produced.

Tendulkar when asked whether Kumble should be inducted in the one-day squad responded by placing the leggie over the likes of Kapil Dev and Bishan Singh Bedi as the greatest Indian bowler.

``He is a great bowler, who doesn't need to prove anything to anyone anymore. He is the greatest bowler India has produced,'' he asserted.

Buttressing his point, Tendulkar said, ``Kumble has got 500 Test wickets, which is incredible and look at his grit and determination. He can fit into any side.'' — Agencies

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