BCCI and Tendulkar's 200th Test: The experts have their say
There’s a lot of debate surrounding the issue of BCCI and Sachin Tendulkar’s 200th Test, with the decision to tweak India’s international schedule to fit in Tendulkar’s 200th Test earning criticism from several quarters. But there’s another school of thought which believes that this is the very least the officials can do for the greatest cricketer produced by the nation.
With the people of the nation divided in their opinions, we asked a panel of experts to voice their say on the matter, so that our readers know what the important cricket analysts in the country think about the whole thing.
Shortening the SA tour to hold Tendulkar’s 200th Test in India: justified, or tactless?
This is what they had to say on the topic:
1. No silver lining in this decision
“An icon who — and has publicly maintained so – is not about individual records gets reduced to a freak sideshow; in the process, a country that has been a natural cricketing ally is treated in callous fashion. What could possibly be good about any of this?”
Prem Panicker, Yahoo! Cricket
2. There could be other reasons for the international rescheduling, not just Tendulkar’s milestone
“First of all, it isn’t exactly clear that the sole reason the two Test matches vs West Indies have been scheduled is to have Tendulkar play his 200th Test at home. There is no guarantee. He could twist his ankle during the warm up and that’d be the end of any such plan.
“It does look like the BCCI has plenty of beef with CSA (as I have outlined in my recent post) which may have led to the scheduling of the series with WI and also the announcing of the New Zealand tour dates, which in turn has put the squeeze on CSA. So to say that the home Tests vs WI were scheduled and the international schedule was “rearranged” to suit Tendulkar’s record is a disingenuous statement to make.”
Subash Jayaraman, TheCricketCouch.com
3. There’s a funny side to it as well
“The BCCI could so easily have organised a match in Sachin’s backyard and got Ajit Agarkar bowl to him the whole day, and given it Test status to make it Sachin’s 200th. Thank God for small mercies.”
Anupam Mukerji, ScoryBoard.com
4. A matter too trivial to merit BCCI’s attention
“I’m more puzzled by the urgency shown by the BCCI. Toying around with the Test cricket schedule will severely affect the number of Tests the other less influential countries get. The BCCI should have planned the celebration of Sachin’s 200th Test well in advance, before chalking out the schedule. As a cricket fan, I’m more interested in the number of Tests played between India and South Africa.”
Satish Acharya, CartoonistSatish.blogspot.in
5. Playing to sentiments or ulterior motives? 
“If the contrived 200th Test at home is a concession to Indian sentimentality then it should be beyond criticism. But if this is a subtle message to Tendulkar that he may not be selected for the South African tour, then it is an insult to India’s greatest performer in Tests and ODIs. There should be no doubt over his place in the Test XI.”
Ramaswamy Mohan, Deccan Chronicle
6. In the current climate, it is a justified decision
“Yes, it is justified. Especially since there is a window open to play a series after the Aussie tour in October and also because of the uncertainty in respect to the South African tour.
Mohandas Menon, Wisdenindia.com
7. Acts like these propagate the ‘individual larger than the game’ mentality
Distasteful for certain. Sachin might be a legend and probably the best cricketer produced by the nation. But acts like these propagate the ‘individual larger than the game’ mentality. Something like this would have been laughed upon in Australia and they’re probably having a good one at our expense right now!
What’s worse, things like these, along with him prolonging his career needlessly, the hopeless search for his 100th 100 – all have dimmed the aura of a legendary cricketer. Now the word on people’s lips is when he’s going to retire, rather than why. I guess this pandering, sycophancy and people bending over backwards will help Sachin ease into life as an MP, of course…
Deepak Gopalakrishnan (Chuck), Chuck Comics