Journalism of Courage
Mumbai: The MCA had on Thursday sent Tendulkar ten canvases by Nashik artist Prafull Sawant to pick his memento,so that the association could present him with a painting on the day of his retirement,post his 200th Test against West Indies at the Wankhede. Earlier,MCA president Sharad Pawar had referred the well-known painter Prafull Sawant and requested him to send a few pictures to the MCA office. These were later forwarded to Tendulkar. It is learned that Tendulkar declined to pick from the collection,and conveyed to the officials that he would choose his own gift. If Sawant’s pictures had been selected,it would have cost MCA Rs 3-5 lakh. “We will see what can be done about it. If he wants any other pictures,we will get those. After all,it’s the only thing Tendulkar has asked from us,” a MCA source said. The MCA had wanted to present Tendulkar a bat of gold or silver,but the batsman had requested for a painting. When contacted,the artist Sawant said that he was in the dark about the decision. “I have submitted the pictures and I’m still to get feedback from MCA about it,” Sawant said.
Devendra Pandey
MCA fixes rates for Tendulkar stand
Mumbai: The Mumbai Cricket Association is to offer special tickets for Rs 10,000 each to the public to witness Sachin Tendulkar take his bow from the game when he plays for India in his landmark 200th Test against the West Indies. “There are around 1,500 seats available to the public at Rs 10,000 each for watching the match (November 14-18) from the upper tier of the Sachin Tendulkar stand. We would be providing the ticket holders tea and snacks,” an official of MCA said. The rates of tickets in other stands have been kept between Rs 500 and Rs 2,500,the official added. MCA has already decided to print the tickets with Tendulkar’s photo on both the sides as a collector’s item.
BCCI to decide Pune Warriors fate today
Chennai: The fate of IPL franchise Pune Warriors,which has defaulted on its payments to the BCCI,would top the agenda when the Cricket Board’s all-powerful working committee meets here on Saturday. The Pune Warriors have been on collision course with the BCCI after the Board encashed its bank guarantee due to non-payment of franchise fee. The Sahara group announced its pull-out from the IPL after that even though that is yet to be formally conveyed to the BCCI,which wants the team to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 170.2 crore to remain part of the league next year. The BCCI is now planning to terminate it from the IPL.
Pybus named director of cricket for Windies
St John’s (Antigua and Barbuda): Former Pakistan coach Richard Pybus was named as director of cricket with the West Indies Cricket Board on a three-year deal. Pybus coached Pakistan from 1999 to 2003 and also led the Titans and Cobras to a total of nine titles in South Africa. “I am delighted and honoured to accept this key role in West Indies Cricket and to help build on the progress that has been made in recent years,” said Pybus. “I am looking forward to working with the West Indies teams,the First Class sides,the High Performance Program and the educational structures to ensure a competitive system that feeds through elite players to international level.”
