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Trophy ready for Sachin's 35th ton
Tendulkar is currently tied at 34 centuries with the Sunil Gavaskar. One more three-figure innings would make the world record his own.
If Sachin Tendulkar scores his world-record 35th Test century during the ongoing third Test against Pakistan at Bangalore, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) is ready with a stunning crystal trophy to be presented to him.
Tendulkar is currently tied at 34 centuries with the legendary Sunil Gavaskar. One more three-figure innings would make the world record his very own.
According to a KSCA official, the trophy is ready and kept in its office at M Chinnaswamy Stadium where the Test is being played.
"It's a beautiful trophy, made of crystal and worth about Rs.30,000," the official said.
Surprisingly, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has "no plan" to recognise Tendulkar's achievement.
"There is no BCCI plan to present him any memento," BCCI communications director Amrit Mathur said.
The BCCI had not felicitated Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq either on the occasion of his 100th Test here. But the 'Sultan of Multan' got a 47-piece custom made dinner set from the proactive KSCA and a crystal jug from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The KSCA is ready with a dinner set for Tendulkar even if he fails to get the coveted century in the Bangalore Test. They would be gifting it to him for reaching 10,000 Test runs, a milestone he achieved in the second Test at Kolkata last week.
Dinner sets are on the cards even for Bangalore-based Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble.
"Dravid is being recognised for scoring two centuries in the Kolkata Test and Kumble, who holds the Indian record for most wickets, for capturing his 450th scalp," said the official.
He said the plan was to make the presentation to these players in front of the crowd during the tea interval on the third day of the Test Saturday.
"It would be the suitable time to make the presentations — because, who knows, by then Tendulkar might have reached his 35th century," he said.
If Tendulkar indeed scores his 35th Test century, it would his 72nd international century as he has 37 centuries in One-Day Internationals.
