COLOMBO, AUG 28: The morning brought bad tidings. Sachin Tendulkar had a recurrence of his back pain and he withdrew from today's India-Australia match. This was the same pain which had created doubts in everyone's mind on the eve of India's departure for Sri Lanka from Chennai. It was said then that Tendulkar had consulted his doctors and they had told him to go ahead with the tour. Tendulkar himself on his arrival here had said: ``I am fit and looking forward to the tournament.''But in the light of what has happened today, and given Tendulkar's history of back spasms which forced him to miss a couple of tournaments before the World Cup, it is imperative that the world's greatest batsman seriouslyre-examines his priorities, even if it means giving a go by to tournaments like the one being played here.Conversely, the Indian Board should take the responsibility of diagnosing his problem and not leave the decision to play or not to the player himself. After India's yet another defeat today, Tendulkarspoke to newsmen, his face hardly glowing and words coming out softly and slowly. It was not difficult to make out the man was in mental agony as well. ``I love to play. I don't like to miss even a practice session, so obviously I am disappointed at having to miss out on today's game,'' he said.But the question uppermost in everyone's mind was: how serious is the problem? Tendulkar himself was not able to answer the question. ``That is what I am trying to find out. I am feeling better just now and if I feel better tomorrow I will even play,'' he said.But this not a question of his being able to play tomorrow or not. This is a question of his fitness and and his career ahead. One fails to understand why he can't go back, consult a specialist, get a proper treatment so that he becomes match-fit again.India needs to treat the world's greatest batsman with a lot of care and foresight. Let not the glow of megabuck blind those in authority and those managing his career should understand the fact that theymight be playing with the career of a player. The huge sponsorship which has a lot to do with his rise to stardom and the man himself is worth crores. But let the fear of this whole money-investing and money-making industry collapsing if Tendulkar has to withdraw for a while from the scene, not guide those who have to also guide Tendulkar. In Colombo, the Indian team does not have a person, who can tell the media what Tendulkar's exact problem is. Dr Ravindra Chadha is not allowed to talk to the press.In such a scenario, it is but natural that speculations will follow. Tendulkar said that he will wait for tomorrow and if he is not feeling better he will consult his doctors. Does that mean going back from here? There was a painful smile on his face, he sighed and mumbled something to the affect:``Let us see.''
