The stage seemed set for Sachin Tendulkar’s 35th Test century but the event proved to be a non-starter. Tendulkar was back in the hut — out first ball — even before the spectators had settled down at the MA Aziz Stadium. Tendulkar seemed disturbed just before the first ball was to be bowled. As he got ready, a media man with an orange-coloured shirt came in sight of an irritated Tendulkar. The media box is situated right above the sight-screed at the Circuit House end. The man was gestured to move away and even umpire Aleem Dar, standing at the bowler’s end, tried his best. But they could not quite draw the person’s attentiion. For a brief moment, the person took a step back but was again back in the frame as Tendulkar got ready. This time even the bowler, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, stopped to look back at the media centre. Unable to draw his attention, Tendulkar decided to carry on and in the end was caught leg-before to an incoming delivery from Mortaza. The Bangladesh team was happy at the early breakthrough but Tendulkar’s mind was already distracted by the movements behind the sight-screen. In fact, the huge hoarding just below the media centre was also painted white for him, but in the end it was of no use. Earlier this season in his comeback Test at Nagpur against Australia, Tendulkar got out minutes after being distracted by movements behind the sight-screen. There the media centre is right behind the bowler’s arm and any movement makes it impossible for batsmen. His fans will have to now wait for Tendulkar’s 35th until Inzamam-ul Haq’s boys get to India.
