Sachin Tendulkar's decision to retire from ODIs was taken over the
"last 72 hours," though he formally informed the BCCI only last night.
According to sources close to the cricketer, BCCI president N Srinivasan was informed only last night.
"Once he was back in Mumbai after the Nagpur Test, he switched off his phone and became incommunicado for at least three days. The only possible way to contact him was through Anjali's (wife) number as he wanted some time to himself," a very close friend of Tendulkar said.
"By Friday night, he had intimated his family and close friends that he wants to quit ODIs. Accordingly, he informed BCCI president N Srinivasan last night about his decision, making it clear that he doesn't want to play against Pakistan," the source added.
There are strong indications that Tendulkar would start his preparations for the four-match Test series against Australia by playing in Mumbai's final Ranji Trophy league game against Gujarat, in Mumbai from December 29-January 1.
Asked about retirement from Tests, the source added, "Any decision on that will only be taken after his performance against Australia. The four-Test series will make it 198 Tests for Sachin and if he does well, he might just think of going to South Africa to complete 200 Tests."
One of the game's all-time greats, Sachin Tendulkar,
on Sunday announced his retirement from one-day cricket, bringing to an
end a glorious 23-year-old career in the format during which he rewrote
numerous batting records.
"I have decided to retire from the One-Day format of the game. I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cup wining Indian team. The preparatory process to defend the World Cup in 2015 should begin early and in right earnest," the 39-year-old said in a statement released by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) on Sunday.
"I would like to wish the team all the very best for the future. I am eternally grateful to all my well wishers for their unconditional support and love over the years," he added.
Tendulkar, considered the most complete batsman in modern cricket and one who was considered next only to the legendary Sir Don Bradman, retires from the ODI format at the top of the run-getters' list.
Tendulkar goes out after amassing 18,426 runs in 463 one-dayers at an average of 44.83. The diminutive right-hander has an astonishing 49 hundreds in the format, including a double hundred -- the first in this form of the game.
Tendulkar made his ODI debut against Pakistan way back in 1989 and interestingly he is quitting the scene just ahead of another series against the arch-rivals.
The Mumbaikar, who made himself unavailable for Twenty20 after playing just one game in 2006, will now remain active in only the Test arena.
The brightest moment of his ODI career came last year when he finally became part of a World Cup winning Indian team after five previous appearances.
Speculation over Tendulkar's future had grown after his continuing failures in the past one year.
His last ODI hundred came in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh in March this year -- a feat that completed an unprecedented 100 international tons.
He was stuck on 99 tons for quite a while after scoring two hundreds during India's successful World Cup campaign.
Tendulkar also has an mammoth tally of 96 ODI 50s to his credit.
According to sources close to the cricketer, BCCI president N Srinivasan was informed only last night.
"Once he was back in Mumbai after the Nagpur Test, he switched off his phone and became incommunicado for at least three days. The only possible way to contact him was through Anjali's (wife) number as he wanted some time to himself," a very close friend of Tendulkar said.
"By Friday night, he had intimated his family and close friends that he wants to quit ODIs. Accordingly, he informed BCCI president N Srinivasan last night about his decision, making it clear that he doesn't want to play against Pakistan," the source added.
There are strong indications that Tendulkar would start his preparations for the four-match Test series against Australia by playing in Mumbai's final Ranji Trophy league game against Gujarat, in Mumbai from December 29-January 1.
Asked about retirement from Tests, the source added, "Any decision on that will only be taken after his performance against Australia. The four-Test series will make it 198 Tests for Sachin and if he does well, he might just think of going to South Africa to complete 200 Tests."
"I have decided to retire from the One-Day format of the game. I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cup wining Indian team. The preparatory process to defend the World Cup in 2015 should begin early and in right earnest," the 39-year-old said in a statement released by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) on Sunday.
"I would like to wish the team all the very best for the future. I am eternally grateful to all my well wishers for their unconditional support and love over the years," he added.
Tendulkar, considered the most complete batsman in modern cricket and one who was considered next only to the legendary Sir Don Bradman, retires from the ODI format at the top of the run-getters' list.
Tendulkar goes out after amassing 18,426 runs in 463 one-dayers at an average of 44.83. The diminutive right-hander has an astonishing 49 hundreds in the format, including a double hundred -- the first in this form of the game.
Tendulkar made his ODI debut against Pakistan way back in 1989 and interestingly he is quitting the scene just ahead of another series against the arch-rivals.
The Mumbaikar, who made himself unavailable for Twenty20 after playing just one game in 2006, will now remain active in only the Test arena.
The brightest moment of his ODI career came last year when he finally became part of a World Cup winning Indian team after five previous appearances.
Speculation over Tendulkar's future had grown after his continuing failures in the past one year.
His last ODI hundred came in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh in March this year -- a feat that completed an unprecedented 100 international tons.
He was stuck on 99 tons for quite a while after scoring two hundreds during India's successful World Cup campaign.
Tendulkar also has an mammoth tally of 96 ODI 50s to his credit.
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