Sheikh Hasina

Dhaka: Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has hailed Sachin Tendulkar as “the pride of the subcontinent” and requested The Master to find time after retirement and guide the emerging cricketers of this country.

Sheikh Hasina said so during a 30-minute meeting with Sachin, who scored his 100th International hundred (in the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh), last Friday, on Monday evening.

Team India’s manager, Arindam Ganguly, was also present when Sheikh Hasina took time off from Parliament to host arguably the greatest cricketer of all time, at her residence, Gono Bhaban.

“The Prime Minister is very aware of what’s happening in cricket and declared that she’s been a huge fan of the sport... She even mentioned that the late Tiger Pataudi had once suggested that she use Sourav Ganguly’s services in grooming Bangladesh’s cricketers,” manager Ganguly told The Telegraph.

Speaking on returning to the Pan Pacific Sonargaon, manager Ganguly added: “The Prime Minister presented a memento to Sachin and made him feel the special sportsman that he is.”

Sachin, according to manager Ganguly, thanked Sheikh Hasina for the courtesy extended to him and applauded Bangladesh for their stunning performance versus India.

That defeat has put a question mark over India qualifying for Thursday’s final.

As for guiding Bangladesh’s cricketers once he’s through with the game (that’s unlikely to be very soon), Sachin merely smiled.

Sweets and fruits had been on offer.

Sheikh Hasina is the second Prime Minister this year, after Australia’s Julia Gillard, to talk cricket and more with Sachin.

As there’s a swelling on his right hand, Sachin came back to the team hotel and skipped the official dinner of the Asia Cup, hosted by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

Incidentally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India president, Narayanswamy Srinivasan, will be the next head of the ACC. He takes over in June.