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Best of luck Sachin, we wish you well

While writing this, Sachin Tendulkar will be preparing to take the field in India's match against Kenya at Bristol. He has flown back from India after attending his father's funeral.

My heart goes out to Sachin in these times of sorrow. There is no way that it can be easy on him after a break of less than a week. Because of his popularity, due to his fantastic cricketing ability, he will be reminded of his sad loss a thousand times over. Every player, every official and just about everybody on the street is going to sympathise with him. To come back and play in the WC is not only going to be hard on the field of play, but also hard behind the scenes.

As a player you are always amongst people, and the centre of attention. He will not be left alone in England as every reporter would like to meet up with him, because, especially now, a story around him will always sell papers.

I can just imagine the popularity of a photo of him looking sad. Troops of photographers will try and get a photo of him showing his sorrow, which will surely be flashed all over the front pages in the press.

I take my hat off to him, for returning to his team during these times, because he will be crowded by people in and outside the cricket arenas, at hotels, car parks, the Mac Donalds' or wherever he will be moving.

The English are very much autograph hunters. They will do literally anything to obtain Sachin's autograph. Many of these people are professionals and will sell a complete set of autographs for hundreds of pounds. So much more for personal photos and autographs. They will be seriously hunting and harassing Sachin.
I know what the pressure is like during the World Cup. Influences outside the game itself can be most disturbing because of the mental capacity you must have as a player on the field. If you are not mentally strong, influences outside of play can have a serious effect on your game and performances.

If these pressures take to him, I sincerely hope it will not negatively affect his preparations, because if so, his nightmare can only be extended.

Best of luck Sachin. On behalf of all the ex-players that have played against you, we wish you well. I think we might be able to imagine just a little bit what you are going through.

Fanie de Villiers