SACHIN TENDULKAR DECLINES TO PICK FROM ARTIST'S COLLECTION

The Mumbai Cricket Association had on Thursday sent Sachin Tendulkar ten canvases by Nashik artist Prafull Sawant to pick his memento, so that the association could present him with a painting on the day of his retirement, post his 200th Test against West Indies at the Wankhede. Earlier, MCA president Sharad Pawar had referred the well-known painter Prafull Sawant and requested him to send a few pictures to the MCA office. These were later forwarded to Tendulkar. It is learned that Tendulkar declined to pick from the collection, and conveyed to the officials that he would choose his own gift. If Sawant\'s pictures had been selected, it would have cost MCA Rs 3-5 lakh. "We will see what can be done about it. If he wants any other pictures, we will get those. After all, it\'s the only thing Tendulkar has asked from us," a MCA source said. The MCA had wanted to present Tendulkar a bat of gold or silver, but the batsman had requested for a painting. When contacted, the artist Sawant said that he was in the dark about the decision. "I have submitted the pictures and I\'m still to get feedback from MCA about it," Sawant said.