Tendulkar, a true ambassador, inspiration for sportsmen: N Srinivasan

Mumbai: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President N.Srinivasansaid on Thursday that he respected batting maestro sachin Tendulkar`s decision to retire, but added that it would be difficult to imagine an Indian cricket team without Tendulkar.

In a statement issued here, Srinivasan said: "I have been an ardent follower and admirer of Sachin Tendulkar from the days he came to play Buchi Babu in Chennai. He is without doubt the greatest cricketer India has produced." "In fact, one should really say he ranks among the top of all time great sports persons in the world. No one has served Indian cricket as Sachin has. He has truly been an Ambassador for India and Indian Cricket. He has been an inspiration for generations of sportsmen, not just cricketers. We respect his decision to retire, although many of us can`t imagine an Indian team without Sachin," Srinivasan added. Earlier, Tendulkar had announced that he will be retiring from all forms of cricket after playing his 200th Test against the West Indies on home soil.