DOHA: Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia is worthy of comparison with cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar, according to the country’s English football coach Bob Houghton.
Bhutia is currently sidelined with a calf injury but Houghton, whose side meet Bahrain in their second Group C match today, said the 34-year-old’s mere presence was a huge boost for his squad.
“Bhaichung and Sachin – I’m sure that comparison goes over the heads of a lot of people here who don’t know about cricket,” explained Houghton at a pre-match press conference yesterday.
“But the best cricketer in the world at the moment is Indian and also a very fine role model. The comparison with Bhaichung is similar.
“They’re the same age, they keep going. Bhaichung retired a few years ago but came back. This man is a major influence on our team and if we can get him out on the field, he could make a difference for us.”
Bhutia, who spent three years with English league side Bury between 1999 and 2002, is India’s talisman and record goalscorer.
His cricketing counterpart Tendulkar, 37, is the leading runs scorer and century maker in both Test and one-day international cricket.
Known as ‘The Little Master’, he is widely considered one of the greatest batsmen ever to have played the game.
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