New Delhi, September 4
Sachin Tendulkar is facing unprecedented calls to retire after a string of failures fuelled speculation that time had finally caught up with India's cricket icon.

Tendulkar, 39, has shouldered the hopes of a nation for 23 years, in the process becoming the world's leading run-getter in both Test and One-day cricket with 100 International centuries.

But a string of recent poor scores — combined with the manner of his dismissals — has turned sections of the media and a once adoring public against him. Sunil Gavaskar, the first man to reach the 10,000-run milestone in Tests, suggested during this week's second Test against New Zealand in Bangalore that Tendulkar's reflexes were on the slide.

“The dismissal that was most disturbing was that of the 'master' when he was bowled through the gate,” Gavaskar wrote. Tendulkar has scored a record 51 Test centuries but he has now gone 25 innings without a hundred in the five-day game since making 146 against South Africa in Cape Town in January 2011.

Tendulkar has consistently dismissed any thought of retirement and told reporters last week that he still loved the game and enjoyed playing at the top level. He is the last remnant of a fabled Indian middle order after both Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman retired in the last 12 months. Sourav Ganguly, the other member of the quartet, quit in 2008. Ganguly, who played alongside Tendulkar for almost two decades, said speculation over Tendulkar's future in the game was uncalled for.

He insisted that Tendulkar is still good enough to play at international level, ahead of visits by England and Australia later in the season. “I honestly feel the time has not come for him to go,” Ganguly said. “He is a legend and takes pride in his game and no one knows his game better than him.”

Ganguly said lack of match practice contributed to Tendulkar's cheap dismissals against the Black Caps, and he expected him to be back in peak form when the four-Test series against England starts in mid-November. Tendulkar had a rotten time in England last year and Australia earlier this year, scoring just four half-centuries in 16 innings as India went down 4-0 against both rivals.

Alarm bells began ringing when Tendulkar took a year to move from 99 to 100 centuries, finally reaching the landmark against Bangladesh during the Asia Cup in March. Hopes that the floodgates would then open have since evaporated. But despite his recent woes, he can at least still rely on the unstinting support of his current captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Dhoni, asked by reporters on Monday if Tendulkar's form worried him, responded: “The good thing is that whenever people talk about his form, he comes up with a brilliant performance. I'm waiting for that. I don't really get worried about that.” — AFP

New Delhi, September 4
The Indian cricket board's (BCCI) working committee on Tuesday decided to take a final call on the fate of the IPL franchisee, Deccan Chargers on September 15 in Chennai.

The working committee met in New Delhi to discuss about finding a prospective buyer as the current owner, Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited (DCHL), has been under financial stress and is unable to pay the salaries to the players.

"There are a lot of legal implications due to which we have not been able to take a concrete decision today at the meeting. The matter will again come up for discussion at a working committee meeting on September 15 in Chennai," said a senior working committee member.

It has been learnt that all the committee members have unanimously agreed and requested BCCI president N Srinivasan to sort out the ongoing mess regarding the Hyderabad-based franchisee.

"Some of the members have suggested that the Board might issue an advertisement in the newspapers inviting bids from the prospective buyers. These bids will remain close till September 15 which is the time alloted to the franchisee to clear some amount of its financial liability.

"If it fails to do so by September 15, then there will be an IPL Governing Council meeting where the members will be apprised about the franchisee being up for sale and later on the same day, there will be a working committee meeting where the matter will be passed," another working committee member, prefering anonymity, informed. According to the senior BCCI officials, the Board is looking at a buyer who will at least agree on paying the players' dues from the last edition of the IPL. In case, BCCI do not get a buyer then the BCCI will encash the bank guarantee and pay their dues. — Agencies

Sharjah, September 4
Contrasting half-centuries from Mike Hussey and Glenn Maxwell led Australia to a series-winning three-wicket victory over Pakistan in the third and final one-day international in Sharjah on Tuesday.

Man-of-the-match Hussey used all his guile with clever reverse-sweeps and deflections as well as the odd lusty blow over midwicket to spearhead his side's pursuit of 245 for victory after Pakistan had made 244 for seven.

He did have a slice of luck when Pakistan chose not to review a leg before wicket appeal off the bowling of Saeed Ajmal before he had scored, but given that good fortune he went on to hit seven fours and a six in a 72-ball stay at the crease.

Although bowled by paceman Junaid Khan with 19 runs still required, his sixth-wicket partnership of 67 from just nine overs with Maxwell (56 not out) ensured Australia were well ahead of the required rate.

Maxwell was dropped on 34 on the deep midwicket boundary by Azhar Ali off the bowling of Junaid and went on to seal Australia's success. — Agencies

New York, September 4
Andy Murray produced a masterclass in tennis to destroy the highly rated Milos Raonic on Monday and book his place in the quarter-finals of the US Open. The Olympic champion provided more evidence he could be ready to add a first grand slam title to the gold medal he won in London last month when he blunted one of the biggest serves in the game to win 6-4 6-4 6-2.

Serena Williams was just as ruthless as she charged into the women's quarters with a 6-0 6-0 win over Czech Andrea Hlavackova while Roger Federer was gifted a spot in the last eight when Mardy Fish withdrew from the year's final grand slam. Showing no mercy against her 82nd ranked opponent, Williams sent an ominous warning of her intention to add the US Open title to her recent wins at Wimbledon and the London Olympics with a rare 'double bagel' victory in 57 minutes.

The American's next opponent is Serbia's Ana Ivanovic, a former world number one who has rediscovered her best after a lean few years where she struggled with injuries. Ivanovic advanced on Monday with an impressive 6-0 6-4 victory over Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova but said she would have to raise her game even higher to compete with Williams.

Federer advanced to his 34th consecutive grand slam quarter-final without hitting a ball on the Labor Day holiday in the United States as Fish pulled out with an undisclosed health issue.

World number one Federer has not dropped a set in this year's US Open at Flushing Meadows. The 31-year-old Swiss will now play Tomas Berdych after the Czech sixth seed thrashed Spain's Nicolas Almagro 7-6 6-4 6-1. Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, the women's second seed, became the highest ranked casualty of the tournament when she lost to Roberta Vinci 6-1 6-4.

The Italian will now play doubles partner and best friend Sara Errani after she upset Germany's Angelique Kerber 7-6 6-3. Croatia's big-serving Marin Cilic defeated Slovakia's Martin Klizan 7-5 6-4 6-0 to secure a place against Murray, who cruised to victory in two hours. Raonic boasts one of the biggest serves in the game but Murray broke him four times and never once faced a break point on his own serve. — Reuters

London, September 4
Girisha Hosanagara Nagarajegowda won a silver in the men's high jump event on Monday at the Paralympic Games in London, bagging India's first medal at the 2012 Games.