Why the 'e' after Sachin?: Dhoni

Kolkata, Nov 5 (IANS) What’s in a name? A lot when the person in question is none other than batting great Sachin Tendulkar who will play his 199th Test match at the Eden Gardens here Wednesday.

So when India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni pointed out an error in Sachin’s spelling on a banner above the scoreboard during the team’s practice session Tuesday, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) officials swung in to action to erase a major cause of embarrassment – an unwelcome ‘e’ at the end of Sachin.

“Pehle ye batao Sachin ki naam ki spelling galat kisne likhi? (First answer this: who wrote Sachin’s spelling wrong?),” Dhoni remarked while entering the ground.

CAB treasurer Biswarup Dey said: “It is not the skipper’s job to see to this. The error is the responsibility of the agency that was handling the banners. We have issued a showcause notice to the agency. And the banner will be changed.”

With all eyes on the Test, CAB will have a tough time steering clear of controversies that could tarnish its image.

The two-Test series against the West Indies will bring down the curtains on Tendulkar’s illustrious 24-year-long career. The cricketer will be playing his 199th Test here while his 200th and last match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai (Nov 14-18).