* Dawood was behind India's pull-out from the ATC: Bharti

Dawood Ibrahim, the mafia king reportedly based in Karachi, is the man primarily responsible for India's withdrawal from the Asian Test Championship. That is the view of the Indian Sports Minister, the saffron-clad Sanyasin Uma Bharti.

"Players' safety was the primary concern behind the Government's decision not to give permission to the team to tour Pakistan," Bharti said in New Delhi. "I don't mean to say that our players would not have been provided adequate security in Pakistan. I am sure they would have been... But with Dawood Ibrahim operating from that country and the threat perception looming large over some of the cricketers, the Government could not convince itself to allow the team to play ATC matches in Pakistan," she added.

Bharti also clarified that there was no blanket ban on playing against Pakistan, "All decisions on future tournaments would be taken keeping in mind the ground realities and this would be applicable to all the games."

* Warne can't help singing the praises of Tendulkar

Ace leg-spinner Shane Warne is one of the many millions who cannot help praising Sachin Tendulkar. Warne, who admits that he was "Tendul-corized" (read handed a pasting) by the little master on more than one occasion, has poured out his thoughts on the genius of Tendulkar in his new biography which has recently hit the stands all over the world. "Much has been made of my personal contest with Tendulkar," he writes. "Some people have said that my duel with Tendulkar in India in 1997-98 was the most compelling Test cricket they have ever seen, but there is no doubt he enjoyed the better of the exchanges.

"He has played me better than anybody. Most Indian batsmen pick the length very quickly, even when it is flighted above the eyeline, but Tendulkar moved into position even earlier than the likes of Mohammad Azharuddin and Rahul Dravid. "His footwork is immaculate. He would either go right forward or all the way back and he has the confidence to go for his strokes. I suppose I would be confident too if I batted as well as Tendulkar.

"Obviously, I never bowled to the Don, but if he was consistently superior to Tendulkar then I am glad he was an Australian." In the biography, Warne also names his dream Test and one-day teams. And you guessed right, Tendulkar finds a mention in both teams. It sure is a life full of Tendulkar for Warne.

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