West Indies intent on spoiling Tendulkar's party

Kolkata, Oct 29 (IANS) Visiting West Indies Tuesday made it clear they want to spoil Sachin Tendulkar‘s farewell hurrah during the two Test matches against India.

While expressing his gratitude to the Indian cricket board for inviting his side for the marquee series, West Indies team operations manager Richie Richardson said they would not concede an inch to the master blaster.

“Our team is elated at getting the chance to play in Tendulkar’s farewell series. But it is in deference to his greatness that we will make him fight for every run. We have come with a mission to win the series,” said Richardson, a former West Indies skipper.

Tendulkar is slated to hang up his bat after the series with matches in Kolkata’s Eden Gardens (Nov 6-10) and Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium (Nov 14-18). The Mumbai match will be the 200th of Tendulkar’s Test career.

Richardson said his team had some surprise plans for Tendulkar. “We have thought about this. And we will pay a fitting tribute to him after the second Test.”

Richardson said when he first saw Tendulkar during the 1992 World Cup in Australia, the youngster seemed to be of the league of West Indies batting great Brian Lara. However, he refused to compare the two.

West Indies’ dashing opening bat Chris Gayle said his side was intent on spoiling Tendulkar’s party.

“Sachin’s a legend and we wish him a great farewell and we want him to walk away happily, but not victorious,” said Gayle in an interview to Cricinfo.

West Indies offie Shane Shillignford said he relished the prospects of bowling to Tendulkar in his swansong series.

“I’m sure he wants to get some good runs, but our goal is just to win.”