Sri Lanka's World Cup-winning former captain Arjuna Ranatunga feels Test cricket would "die" if players like Sachin Tendulkar call it quits.
"If players like him (Tendulkar) don't play the longer version of the game, Test cricket will die. I pray to God he continues to play Test cricket. I was very happy to know he has retir-ed from ODIs. For me Test is education and the shorter versions are entertainment," Ranatunga told PTI.
Ranatunga, who guided Sri Lanka to their first and only World Cup title in 1996, said Tendulkar still has a lot of cricket left in him.
Asked whether Sachin was on a comeback trail after scoring two centuries in domestic matches, Rana-tunga said the Mumbaikar, despite being 39, is a much better player than some of the younger Indians.
"If he plays one good knock, I am sure he will play two-three years more without a problem," he said.
On to issues facing international cricket and Ranatunga came down heavily on the ICC, calling the sport's world governing body "toothless".
Instead of blaming the BCCI for the non-implementation of the controversial Decision Review System to avoid umpiring mistakes, Ranatunga turned his ire on the ICC.
"I am not blaming BCCI, but blaming ICC for not making DRS compulsory. They should not allow home countries to take decisions on the matter," he said, adding that even if the Indian Board pushes the ICC into a corner, it should take bold decisions and make it mandatory for all nations to use DRS.
{{/usCountry}}"I am not blaming BCCI, but blaming ICC for not making DRS compulsory. They should not allow home countries to take decisions on the matter," he said, adding that even if the Indian Board pushes the ICC into a corner, it should take bold decisions and make it mandatory for all nations to use DRS.
{{/usCountry}}"This system is the best thing that has happened to cricket in the last 20 years," Ranatunga opined.