COLOMBO, Aug 31: Sachin Tendulkar kept smiling. But it was plain to all mediapersons present huddled in his hotel room here that he was disturbed. Realisation had dawned on him that all of a sudden hopes of a great career depended on his problematic back.It's crisis time for the Indian captain. His predicament: What is the right course of action? To rest or not to rest and when to find time to treat the stiffness of his back which he gets from time to time.``I know I have a problem. I also know that when I decided to play against Lanka I was taking a risk. A day before the match I was in no condition to play. I got up the next morning and felt better. Since the game was very important and we have not done well here, I decided to play,'' Tendulkar said.Isn't the risk a bit too much? What about his future? Shouldn't he be more concerned about getting his ailment properly diagnosed? And if he decides to carry on playing, where is the time for him to consult a specialist? There were many questions whichneeded answers and Tendulkar was willing to articulate his thoughts.``Yes, I am aware of the risks involved. I also know that this concerns my career. I have to show my back to a specialist and I will be doing it soon. (A PTI report from Mumbai says that Tendulkar, taking the advice of Shane Warne, is likely to go to see a specialist in Australia straight after the conclusion of the limited-overs series against the West Indies at Toronto on September 14). But no doctor can actually feel the pain I go through. It is finally for me to decide whether I can play or not. I have this pain and then it goes. And it is not exactly pain, I feel stiffness in my body. Today I am feeling perfectly fine. Yes, I am in touch with my doctors and if I get it again in Singapore I will definitely go for treatment immediately. I won't be careless.''Is the Indian Board putting pressure on him to play? Are the sponsors forcing him to play?``No sponsor can put any pressure on me. I am too strong for that. I know mypriorities. For me playing for my India and winning comes first. The rest is secondary. As far as the Indian Board is concerned they have left the decision to me,'' said Tendulkar.Has he given thought to the possibility of skipping unimportant games? ``No, I have not given any thought to this possibility. I am hoping I will be okay and will be able to play in all games,'' he said.What is the medical advise? ``I was advised rest because of the excess weight on the back. After I heeded the advice I became fully fit again.''What about the heavy bat he uses? Did the doctor tell him to use a lighter bat? ``Well, he did not exactly say that. I guess with advancing age all batsmen have to change to lighter bats. I am used to playing with the heavier bat for the last 15 years now and it will be difficult for me now to adjust to a lighter bat.''He is reminded of a move which the ICC had made a couple of years ago to find out the views of all the captains of Test-playing nations on what is the right numberof matches a team should be playing. ``Yes, even I attended it once. I think the consensus was there should be 25 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and seven Test matches a year,'' he said.He was told then that India, beginning this January and ending next year February, will be playing 53 ODIs and seven Tests. There was no answer from the man but the grimace on his face was far more eloquent than words.India played about 40-odd ODIs last year, which was a record of sorts.Tendulkar revealed that a request for a trainer has been made. ``I am sure we will be given one very soon.'' In fact, BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele said in Mumbai on Tuesday sport-trainer board agm to decide on new physical trainer for Indian squad that the new physical trainer for the national squad will be decided at the board's its AGM in Jaipur on September 21-22.
