4 February 1999
Tendulkar injury the concern for India
By Peter Deeley in Delhi
SACHIN TENDULKAR's fitness overshadows everything else in the
build-up to India's second Test against Pakistan starting here
today - even the plan to bring in local snake charmers to protect
the players.
Tendulkar, who pulled a muscle in his lower back during his
century in the Madras game, was still feeling the effects at
practice yesterday.
His taciturn "I will be OK" has not completely convinced the
Indian selectors and he will have another trial before the match.
The Indians know that they will be taking a risk if he plays and
breaks down, because going into the game with an injury means he
cannot have a runner.
But Tendulkar is such a key player that they almost cannot afford
to be without him if India are to avenge their 12-run defeat last
weekend.
He was the only batsman to neutralise the threat posed by
Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and the tourists are hoping
that leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed recovers from his back problems in
time.
Raj Singh, the Indian Cricket Board president, said: "I have
never known a player so committed to the game in the 25 years I
have been associated with it. If it is humanly possible Tendulkar
will play."
India's coach, Anshuman Gaekwad, said Tendulkar was feeling
better after two days' rest "and it will be up to the player to
decide. He is the best judge of his fitness. At the moment he is
quite hopeful."
This is the ground where the first Test was to have been played
until Hindu extremists climbed the walls after dark four weeks
ago and dug up the pitch in protest at Pakistan's visit. Another
wicket has been prepared and security at the ground is high.
Something like 10,000 police and soldiers are on stand-by for the
the game - along with 16 snake charmers specially hired from a
country area.
The Delhi central head of police explained: "A threat had been
issued that snakes could be let loose. The snake charmers will be
ready for any eventuality."
The chief snake charmer inspected the stadium with the police and
decided two men, complete with their magical musical instruments,
should be positioned at the front of each section of seating to
ward off any reptiles crawling on to the ground.
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)