Sachin lacks fire for ODIs: Raja

Former Pak captain Rameez Raja joins the chorus calling for Tendulkar's retirement.

Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja has joined the chorus calling for Sachin Tendulkar's retirement.

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Raja feels the Indian star should bid adieu to one-day cricket as he has lost the extra fire power needed for playing the shorter version of the game.

Past prime

He further added that Tendulkar was past his prime as could be seen from the fact that he had not played many match-winning knocks in one-day cricket.

"I would want to see him play regularly for India in Test matches, maybe not so in one-day cricket.

"You need little more fire power in one-day cricket and the youngsters can provide that," he said.

"Of late, his graph has been going down and though he is averaging around 50, he has not been winning matches for India for quite a few years." Tendulkar, however, had the class in him to succeed in Test cricket, Raja added.

"You need bit of experience and class (in Test cricket) and certainly Sachin has that experience and class," the cricketer-turned-commentator told a leading television channel.

Greg fell short

He also felt that Greg Chappell could not spot the right talent and India never looked like a team in this World Cup.

"I think he could not spot the right talents to replace the old generation of cricketers. Whatever talent was on display in the World Cup was just not up to the mark.

"I also feel that his relationship with the players dwindled because of his methods. I'm just speculating but maybe he was little too tough and maybe his dealing with some of the players was not appropriate."