Kapil Dev says Sachin has 'outstayed' his welcome in Indian ODI team

Africa Leader (ANI) Thursday 23rd February, 2012

Legendary all rounder Kapil Dev has said master blaster Sachin Tendulkar should have retired from the one-day internationals after winning the World Cup last year.

India's first World Cup winning captain, Dev praised Tendulkar for serving India for so many years, but believed every sportsman has a life span, which shouldn't be exceeded.

"It's important to know that every cricketer has his time," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Dev, as saying.

"Having served India for 22-23 years, there surely is no greater cricketer than [Tendulkar]. But he should have announced his decision to retire from the shorter format soon after the World Cup. Age is not on his side as it was earlier. Probably he is a cricketer who loves the game more than us. There are some people who cannot leave cricket," he said.

There have been signs of deterioration in his batting and captain M. S. Dhoni has alluded to the 38-year-old's slowness in the field as reasons for not picking senior batsmen Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir to play together in the same team. (ANI)