Tendulkar surprised at Mumbai Indians not picking me: Tamim

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal says batting legend Sachin Tendulkar was surprised that he was overlooked by Mumbai Indians (MI) during the Jan 8-9 Indian Premier League-4 auction.

Tamim said that Tendulkar has promised to look into the IPL rules whether his team Mumbai Indians can still sign him up.

Here to play the opening match of the World Cup that India won against Bangladesh, Tendulkar regretted that his IPL franchisee did not rope in Tamim during the auction.

Tendulkar had instructed MI officials to pitch for Tamim, but when he was put on auction they remained silent.

Tamim came to know about this when he met Tendulkar before the Indian team left Dhaka.

“He (Tendulkar) told me he was very surprised at their decision,” Tamim was quoted as saying in The New Age Monday.

“He was out of India at that time and so could not dictate the terms. Tendulkar promised to see the rules if they could still sign me,” said Tamim.

Lutfur Rahman Badal, the cricket chairman of the Mohammedan Sporting Club, said Tendulkar spoke very highly of Tamim.

“Mumbai Indians have only $1,25,000 left from their budget in this season. They have to hire some uncapped Indian players with this money. So he was not sure if they still can sign Tamim,” said Badal.

Mohammedan Sporting Club has also invited Tendulkar to play for them in the next season and says that the master blaster has agreed to consider the proposal.