London: Sachin Tendulkar's future continued to be the subject of intense debate which was joined in on Sunday by former England captain Michael Atherton, who wrote in a British newspaper under the headline ``Sachin Tendulkar, now just a comic hero'', that his batting prowess was on the wane.

Former international cricketers, sports commentators and the public at large discussed on television channels and newspaper columns whether Tendulkar should call it a day in the aftermath of his poor showing in the World Cup. The opinions were divided but the majority was not in favour of his complete retirement from the game.

Television poll

On a CNN-IBN poll of 60 former and current first-class cricketers, 33 percent respondents said that it was time for the batting great to retire from One-Day Internationals (ODIs) as well as Tests but 56 percent were of the view that he should quit only ODIs. Eleven percent said that Tendulkar should be dropped from the team.

The debate has accelerated after Ian Chappell, former Australian captain and brother of Indian coach Greg, suggested in a newspaper column three days ago that Tendulkar should think in terms of retirement instead of trying to ``eke out a career''.

Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis expressed the view that India should groom youngsters for the next World Cup. As far Tendulkar's future, ``the decision should be left to him,'' he said.

Former India skipper Krishnamachari Srikkanth was of the view that Tendulkar was good enough for a couple of years of more international cricket.

Writing in London's Sunday Telegraph, Atherton picked on Chappell's comment that Tendulkar shouldn't hang around if he did not think that he could win matches for India.

Careworn

``For whatever reason — fatigue, injuries, the goldfish bowl that is Indian cricket — the joy of playing has not been in evidence in Tendulkar's batting for some time. He is not careworn, not carefree,'' he wrote.

Atherton, citing the never-ending announcements of sponsorship deals signed by Tendulkar, wondered whether it was reasons other than cricket that was keeping him going.

``The truth is that Tendulkar has been marketed as a brand for some time, advertising many of the biggest commercial names in India. There are many interested parties who are keen to see Tendulkar wearing India's colours for a while yet...

``There are only two reasons for carry on playing: if you are good enough, and if you still love the game. Only Tendulkar knows whether that love is alive. Everyone else is painfully aware that, despite his new super-hero status, his powers are very much on the wane.'' — PTI

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