Mixed reactions to Tendulkar's Rajya Sabha nomination

Kolkata/New Delhi, Apr 27 (ANI): India's sporting heroes have given a mixed reaction to the UPA-II Government's decision to nominate cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha.

Former soccer star Baichung Bhutia said joining politics was a personal decision of Tendulkar, but added that the country needed dedicated and honest politicians like Tendulkar, who commands the respect of every Indian sports fan.

"I think it's completely a personal decision, if Sachin (Tendulkar) thinks he should join politics and he can make a difference, its most welcome. If he doesn't want to, its completely a personal decision, which he has to think and for a sports person, I think, people like Sachin coming in is always good, because its going to benefit sports, and its going to benefit especially sports, but I think Sachin is one person who everybody looks upto, and I am sure he will do a great job. We need good politicians, good, honest people in the Parliament," said Bhutia.

Former cricket captain Dilip Vengsarkar remained sceptical about Tendulkar being able to devote his time for parliamentary proceedings when he is playing every format of the game.

"I don't know whether he has time to do that, because I think he is playing international cricket, he is playing in all formats of the game, whether he will have time to do that? Whether he will have time to attend the Parliament? I really cannot say anything on this," said Vengsarkar.

Tendulkar, who has brought many laurels to the nation through his remarkable achievements in the game of cricket, met Congress President Sonia Gandhi along with his wife Anjali at the former's residence on Thursday.

Tendulkar is the leading run-scorer and century maker in Test and one-day international cricket. He is the first player to score a double century in ODI cricket.

In 2002, just 12 years into his career, Wisden ranked Tendulkar the second greatest Test batsman of all time, behind Donald Bradman, and the second greatest one-day-international (ODI) batsman of all time, behind Viv Richards. He was also a part of the 2011 Cricket World Cup winning Indian team. (ANI)