I was the one who staged the meet (to decide Sachin Tendulkar’s future): Sandeep Patil

Back then while Tendulkar was a regular member of the Test squad, he wasn’t playing in the 50-format as regularly. And according to Patil, Tendulkar’s reaction to being asked about his future revealed that he was focused more on continuing to play Tests.

“Sachin wanted to concentrate more on Test cricket.. He called me and Sanjay Jagdale (then BCCI secretary). Then it was collectively decided that he will retire from ODI’s,” said Patil.

It was just a week ago in his last press conference as chairman of selectors that Patil had spoken about how some matters between the selectors and BCCI should remain confidential and should never be revealed. He was slightly more revealing about the mystery surrounding Tendulkar’s eventual retirement from all formats a year after he bid adieu to the 50-over format but insisted that he hadn’t pressurized the senior player to take a call.

“Sandeep Patil is a man of low stature compared to Sachin Tendulkar. Do you really think I can ask someone who is called the ‘god of cricket’ to leave the game? It was not my decision, Sachin himself decided to bid good-bye. No doubt I was a part of that decision. It was a right decision taken at a right time. I was disappointed like a million others but you shouldn’t get disturbed when you are at the chief selector’s position,” he added.

Patil’s stint saw the drawing of curtains on a number of illustrious careers. In addition to Tendulkar, both Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan also called it a day. Reports had claimed that Sehwag in particular had even wished to play a farewell Test. But Patil said that he wasn’t in favour of dishing out on-field farewells to cricketers.

“It’s wrong if we decide to give farewell to every cricketer. This decision rests with the BCCI or the governing bodies but it’s kind of obvious to feel bad. I can understand that feeling (Sehwag’s). As a player I have gone through that as well. I believe Tendulkar’s farewell was well organized by the BCCI but it somewhere raised expectations of the other players. Selectors don’t give much attention to these things. Our job is to hunt for talent who can take the Indian cricket team forward,” he said.

Patil also said that the age of a player should never be considered while taking a selection call.

“Sometimes people say players are dropped because of their age but I believe age is not the barrier. We give importance to fitness and performance. If a player is fit enough to perform, he will have equal chances to be considered for selection,” he said.