The state wants cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to be its tourism brand ambassador and has sent a formal request to him on Wednesday.
State tourism minister, Chhagan Bhujbal, has written a letter to Tendulkar asking im to grant approval to the state's offer.
"I have requested Tendulkar because we will be celebrating the year 2011 as tourism year," Bhujbal said in a press statement on Wednesday. Bhujbal asked the International Cricket Council chief, Sharad Pawar, who wields the biggest clout in world cricket, to get Tendulkar on board.
“I met Pawar in New Delhi on Tuesday and requested him to convince Tendulkar,” said Bhujbal. “There could be no better brand ambassador for our tourism than Tendulkar because he's our own star. He is born and brought up here in Maharashtra."
Tendulkar and his agent were not available for comment.