Rantunga admires Tendulkar for putting country before money

Sri Lanka’s world cup winning captain has taken an indirect dig at senior Sri Lanka cricketers who had refused to tour England to take part in cash-rich Indian Premier League when Ranatunga was the head of Sri Lanka Cricket Interim committee. He had said this while parising Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar.

"Sachin has sacrificed a lot to reach the pinnacle. He has sacrificed playing T20 international cricket which is all about money and glamour. Young players, who do not hesitate sacrificing playing for the country for financial gains, should learn quite a few lessons from him," Ranatunga told an international news agency.

Raantunga had felt that the glamour and glitz of Twenty20 has had its adverse affect on Test cricket and only someone of Sachin Tendulkar's stature can help restore the waning popularity of the traditional form of the game.

The Lankan captain lavished praise on Sachin for not treating the game as a source of income.

"Sachin is an iconic figure. We need cricketers like him to save Test cricket. As long as Sachin is playing, I am sure Test cricket is safe," Rantunga said from Colombo while congratulating the champion batsman on his 50th Test century.

"He has been playing for more than 20 years now. I think he is a rare cricketer who does not consider cricket as a source of income. This is the secret of his longevity and phenomenal success as well," the cricketer turned politician said.

He said that he feels that it was privilege to compete with Sachin for more than a decade.

"Sachin is very humble. A real gentleman. He is very down to earth despite his stupendous achievements. I consider myself fortunate that I have played enough cricket against him," said Ranatunga who had retired after the 1999 World Cup.

Ranatunga also felt that it's entirely upto Sachin as to how long he wants to continue playing.

"It is upto him as to how long he wants to play. As far as I am concerned, we are fortunate that we can watch him bat. Once he retires, the cricket fraternity will need him even more as he will remain the biggest ambassador of the game," Ranatunga concluded.