Jamaica: Sachin Tendulkar's absence from the Test series hasn't dismayed fans only in India , even his West Indies fans were waiting for him to show up.
Sachin’s absence for the test series was a double whammy for Dravid and his boys. After being 2-1 down in the ODI series, they have also lost their most respected player for the Test series.
As news of Sachin Tendulkar's pull-out from the tour came in, the Indian skipper did his best to put a positive spin on the development.
"Yeah that means somebody else will be getting an opportunity. In some ways, we thought he will not be available for the test match, it looked very touch and go," Dravid said.
"It's tough, sachin is a good player and some one who was experienced would have been very handy, but now we have to do without him and some one else gets a chance, a youngster gets a chance. And hopefully might be making of him in this tour."
But even as Team India prepares for life without the master, there is disappointment in the West Indies.
In 10 test matches here before, Tendulkar has made just one century although he averages nearly 50.
Even as the West Indian fans were hoping the master doesn't add substantially to those numbers, they were waiting for a chance to see him in action.
Captain Brian Lara echoed the sentiments of the cricket fans of the islands.
"A big loss to the Caribbean people, a big loss to the viewing public around the world. And any series India is playing, be it in West Indies or where ever in the world, you want to see their best players playing. And Sachin will be missed. Everybody has great respect for him," Lara said.
"He is somebody we'd like to see on the tour to Caribbean. At the end of the day yes you'd like to win, but you want to win against the best team. And for Sachin I'd like to say, get fit as soon as possible. And we have some matches to play against each other hopefully in ICC tournaments. It (his absence) is unfortunate and I wish him a speedy recovery."
India will be back in the West Indies to play a test series only in four years time, and by that time it's higly unlikely sachin will be a member if that Indian team.
So, the fans here are hoping the master will sparkle one last time in the World cup in the Caribbean islands in 2007.
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