Big Bash League T20: When Sachin Tendulkar came close to signing for Sydney Thunder

Sachin Tendulkar in action for Mumbai Indians

Retired Indian cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar was close to signing for the Sydney Thunders of the KFC T20 Big Bash League last year. Tendulkar, who had been offered a very attractive package from the former Cricket NSW administration to don the lime-green jersey of Thunders, had considered their offer, Sydney Morning Herald reported today.

Thunder’s who were looking to rebuild, following a disastrous campaign, had offered a deal to Tendulkar to play for them over a course of four weeks this season. The state government was asked by Cricket NSW to use its ties in India to lure the little master to Australia.

Sachin was reportedly interested in the offer from the Thunders, before the move stalled and died down as the head of Cricket NSW, Harry Harinath resigned last year.

After failing to capture their prime-target, the Thunder had another poor season, with their 19-match losing streak coming to an end today, and are trying to recruit local products in the form of Ben Rohrer, Pat Cummins, Doug Bollinger etc. to regroup ahead of next season.

Under Harinath, Cricket NSW board had acknowledged that they needed bigger stars to attract some 90,000 odd people of Indian and subcontinental background, which surrounded the Olympic Park stadium. In order to address the same, Tendulkar along with Michael Hussey and Brett Lee, were in the wanted-list of the former board.

Although they were able to capture Hussey, who went on to become the team’s best player, they failed in the pursuit of Brett Lee, who remained with cross-town rivals Sydney Sixers, while the pursuit of Tendulkar also failed as he preferred to stay in Mumbai, following the shuffle of the board.

Harinath is understood to have to have even visited India to meet people reported as “extremely close” with Tendulkar, although after an overhaul in the Organization’s administration which saw Harinath step down from his post as Chairman of Cricket NSW and as a board member of CA, the move fell through. The former chairman refused to comment on his meeting with Tendulkar’s representatives when contacted by SMH.