The ICC on Saturday paid rich tributes to Sachin Tendulkar, who retired from international cricket after playing his 200th Test match, with its chief executive Dave Richardson saying that "sporting geniuses like Sachin are rare phenomenons".
"He was an exceptional cricketer who earned the utmost respect of his peers, team-mates, opponents and fans all over the world through his talent, performances and fierce competitiveness," said Richardson, who played 10 Tests and 26 ODIs against Tendulkar between 1991 and 1998.
"Sporting geniuses like Sachin are rare phenomenons and we are privileged to have seen him in action. On behalf of the ICC and the entire cricketing family, I thank Sachin for his unprecedented services to our sport and we wish him well in the future," he said.
Tendulkar brought curtains down on his 24-year-long illustrious career in home ground at the Wankhede Stadium here after India thrashed the hapless West Indies team by an innings and 126 runs in the second cricket Test to clinch the series 2-0.