Veterans want Tendulkar as Sports Minister. Do you agree?

Lauding Sachin Tendulkar's love for sports, former Test cricketer Chandu Borde and legendary athlete Milkha Singh strongly voiced their opinion that the retiring legend should be appointed as Sports Minister of India in future.

Milkha Singh added that as the iconic batsman understands the problems faced by sportsperson and he can raise the overall standard of sports in the country.

"I do not believe Sachin can ever distance himself from sports. It's in his blood. In the future, I wish to see him don the cap of India's Sports Minister and raise our overall sports performance to glorious levels, as he has done for Indian cricket," said Borde, who was also the former chairman of national selectors, during a function organised at Global Indian international Cricket Academy.

Borde, who was the Indian team manager on Tendulkar's debut tour in 1989, said the way the iconic batsman carried himself both on and off the field was an impeccable example for youngsters to follow.

The 40-year-old veteran will be playing his landmark 200th and final Test of his career against the West Indies at his home ground in Mumbai and Borde believes even after hanging up his boots the little man will continue to inspire youngsters to take up sports.

On the other hand the ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh said that Tendulkar is very sincere and can do the job well.

"He knows the difficulties which are being faced by the sportspersons. I think he can do this job well. The government should not face any major hurdle in making him the sports minister since he is already a Rajya Sabha member," Singh added.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters in Amritsar, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu said the retiring cricketer is not just an individual but he is an institution, whose name will be remembered forever.

"There has never been a player like Sachin and never will be," the BJP MP from Amritsar said.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said that it is difficult to imagine an Indian team without Tendulkar.

"But, I guess, we will have to prepare ourselves for this," Harbhajan He recalled having met Tendulkar in Chandigarh, when he was asked to bowl during a net practice session nearly 16 years ago. The batting legend was impressed with Harbhajan's bowling and told him that he has the talent to play for the Indian team in future.

"He is like an elder brother, a great motivator," he added.