Tendulkar, Shastri pay homage to Mark Mascarenhas

Fighting back tears, an emotional Sachin Tendulkar bid adieu to his marketing agent, close friend and Worldtel chief Mark Mascarenhas, who lost his life in a road accident near Nagpur on Sunday.

Accompanied by wife Anjali, Tendulkar, who said he was shattered by Mascarenhas's death, attended a memorial service at St. Patrick's Church in Bangalore.

"He (Mascarehnas) was like my elder brother," said Tendulkar, at the 40-minute service, attended by a large gathering.

"He always treated me as a family member. He always told me to concentrate on my cricket and never bother about the commercial aspect," the maestro said.

He added: "He never forced me to do any commercials."

And looking at the coffin, he declared: "We will all miss you."

Besides Mascarenhas's family, among those who attended the service were former Australia captain Ian Chappel, cricketers Ravi Shastri, Syed Kirmani and Venkatesh Prasad.

Mascrenhas's wife and four children had flown in from Connecticut in the United States, where he was based.

Mascarenhas shot into the limelight when he signed a multi-million dollar deal with Tendulkar in 1996, making him the highest paid cricketing star.

Shastri, recalling his association with Mascarenhas, called him a great friend.

"If Mark was here, he would have said, 'Shastri, what are you doing here?.. get out of here... Sachin is batting'," he said, overcome by emotion.

Mascarenhas's body will be flown to Connecticut for burial, family sources said.

Mail Cricket Editor