. By T.V. Antony Raj
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Yesterday, Friday March 16, 2012, playing in the 4th One Day Interantional match of the Asia Cup 2012 against the hosts Bangladesh, Sachin Tendulkar scored a century thus becoming the only man in the history of the sport to score 100 centuries in international cricket. He took the single off Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh and finally achieved the elusive milestone.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated the Master Blaster saying, “I join the nation in congratulating Sachin Tendulkar on his making history – a hundred centuries… He has made India proud. Tendulkar’s long career has been a triumph of class, character and courage. Wish him many more innings and feats to continue inspiring the youth.”

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat also congratulated the iconic batsman achieving the feat.

“On behalf of every cricket fan around the globe, I congratulate Sachin on becoming the first person to score 100 centuries for his country. This is indeed a magnificent feat and not likely to be easily emulated,” said Lorgat.

“Fans have admired Sachin for more than 20 years and have recently waited with great expectation for his 100th international century. The number 100 is special for a batsman and to record 100 centuries for your country is a massive statement.”

Lorgat also said that Tendulkar was a marvel to cricket lovers around the world and a true role model.

“Like millions of others, I have personally followed his career ever since he first played for India as a gifted 16-year-old and now, more than two decades later, his passion and personal records, which include more than 33,000 runs at international level, is a modern day wonder.

“He is a marvel to cricket lovers around the world and with an array of batting records, Sachin is a true role model who will undoubtedly hold a special place in cricket’s history,” he said. (PTI)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President N Srinivasan heaped praises on Sachin Tendulkar for becoming the first cricketer in the world to score 100 international centuries and said that 16th March 2012 would never be forgotten.

“Ever since he made his international debut in November 1989, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has strode cricketing arenas the world over, like a colossus. He has broken old records and set new benchmarks. He has been an inspiration to billions, and an ornament to the sport,” said Srinivasan.

“16 March 2012 will never be forgotten by cricket-lovers. On behalf of the BCCI, I would like to congratulate Sachin Tendulkar for completing a century of international centuries,” he added. (PTI)

And bollywood? Of course it went crazy and started twitting.

“God’s special creation …Sachin Tendulkar!! India breathes normally..!! Sachin completes an incredible feat!! A hundered 100′s…Never done before, perhaps never after!!!” said Amithab Bachchan.  “A lion does not concern himself with the opinions of the sheep,” the megastar tweeted hinting at Sachin’s critics.

And his son Abhishek Bachan tweeted, “How good is Sachin? he’s the best. period! stop analyzing him. stop being cynical. just celebrated him!”

The 82-year old Queen of Melody, Lata Mangeshkar, twitted “A big congratulations to Sachin. He has once again created history with his superb innings.”

Actress Bipasha Basu tweeted, “Saluting The Great Tendulkar for his 100th 100! We stropped our shoot to see it happen! Jubilant and Ecstatic.”

Action hero Akshay Kumar tweeted, “Salute to the man who never gave up in spite of all the criticisms. Finally he did it, Sachin creates history in world cricket! Congrats to Sachin Hundredkar.”

38-year-old cricket star, Sachin Tendulkar has scored 49 centuries in One Day International matches and 51 in international Tests.

Tendulkar scored his 99th international hundred more than a year ago on home soil. It took him more than one year to reach the milestone of scoring 100 centuries in international cricket.

His 49th ODI hundred in Dhaka brought up a unique century of centuries that no other player is close to achieving. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting is next best with 71 international centuries, and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis trails behind him with 59.

In the 1990s, Adidas signed world’s iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar of India and made shoes for him. Tendulkar still wears Adidas shoes while playing matches. Since 2008, Adidas has sponsored the cricket bat used by Sachin Tendulkar. It created a new bat, ‘Adidas MasterBlaster Elite’, personalized for him.

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