Kolkata: With two days to go for the start of Sachin Tendulkar’s 199th Test match - his penultimate - at the Eden Gardens here, cricket fever has gripped Bengal with exhaustive preparations being made to ensure a grand send-off to the master blaster. Both the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and the state sports ministry have swung into action to mark the momentous event. Special arrangements have been made so that fans do not miss out on seeing the master blaster create history.
The carnival began on Sunday when a tableau bearing the life-size cardboard cutouts of Tendulkar and festooned with lights, was flagged off from the Eden Gardens with a message board for fans.
The Bengal government plans to set up 200 giant screens across the state to enable fans to watch the India-West Indies Test match. Such giant screens are also planned to be put up at shopping malls like South City and other popular spots in Kolkata.
As many as 20 billboards across the sprawling state capital have gone up displaying praises showered on him by cricketing legends like Don Bradman, Viv Richards, Kapil Dev and Barry Richards.
Thousands of his ardent admirers have grabbed match tickets that have become a collector’s items with sketches and photos of Tendulkar printed on tickets for each of the days. “Booked my ticket for the God’s 199th Test. Master here I come to bid u a grand farewell for one last time,” said Gourav Chakraborty, a banking official after booking his tickets. While the city decks up to welcome the cricketing hero, lavish farewell gifts and occasions are in order for Tendulkar. IANS
