LAST SPEECH BY SACHIN

১৬ ই নভেম্বর, ২০১৩ বিকাল ৩:৪৩

* Friends please settle down, I'll

get more emotional! It's hard to

believe my wonderful journey is

coming to an end.

* I have got a list of people to

thank because sometimes I

forget.

* I would like thank everyone

who has made this possible.

* Its getting little difficult to talk

but I'll manage.

* I would like to thank my father.

Without his guidance, I don't

think I would be standing here.

He told me never to take shortcuts

and never give up. And above all

he told me to be a better human

being.

* Every time I held my bat up, it

was for my father.

* I thank my mother for taking

care of me and praying for me. A

big thank you to my mother for all

the sacrifices. I don't know how

she managed a naughty child like

me. She just prayed and prayed

from the day I started playing the

game.

* I'd like to thank my aunt and

uncle who fed me while I was

living with him.

* To my siblings for their

encouragement, advice and

support.

*My eldest brother Nitin doesn't

like to talk much but he said,

'whatever you do, I know you will

give 100 per cent'. My first cricket

bat was presented to me by my

sister Savita. It was a Kashmir

willow. She still continues to fast

while I bat.

* My brother Ajit has lived this

journey with me. I don't know

how to thank him enough.

* The most beautiful thing that

happened to me in my life was in

1990 when I met my wife Anjali.

She took a backstep from her

career as a doctor and she looked

after my family. Thank you for

bearing with me. You're the best

partner.

* Two precious gems of my life

Sara and Arjun. I'm sorry for

missing your annual day,

sometimes your birthdays. Thank

you for understanding that. I

know for 14-16 years I've not

spent enough time with you. But I

promise you that the next 16 and

the many more after that are

yours.

* I'd like to thank my in laws and

my friends.

* In the last 24 years my friends

have made terrific contributions.

They have been with me while I

was stressed. They have been

with me even at 3am when I was

injured. Thanks for being there

for me

* My cricket career started when I

was 11, turning point came when

Ajit took me to my coach

Ramakant Achrekar.

* I would like to thank the

Mumbai Cricket Association for

taking care of me.

* For 29 years my coach Achrekar

has never said 'well played' to me

as he thought I would get

complacent. I was extremely

delighted to see Achrekar sir in

the stands. I used to ride on his

scooter and play two matches a

day. Sir took me along to make

sure I played.

* You are like my family away

from home...my teammates. I

know you will serve the country

effectively. I have full faith in you

guys.

* It is going to be difficult not be

part of the dressing room, not to

share the special moments

* I thank my physios, doctors for

keeping me fit. My first manager,

Masceranhes for all his support

and encouragement.

* I understood what it requires to

play for the country. I understood

the gravity of it. Thank you to

everyone who shared my vision.

* I thank the media for

supporting me. I thank all the

photographers as well for all the

wonderful photographs.

* Lastly, i want to thank all the

people here who have flown from

all over the world for supporting

me. Whether it was a zero or a

century, you've always been there

for me. You guys have faste for

me and done many other things.

Memories like these are going to

stay on with me forever. Thank

you being there for me. I would

not be the person I am if it wasn't

for you.

* I'm sorry if I have forgotten

someone. Goodbye

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