Visiting Sri Lanka team skipper Kumar Sangakkara on Sunday lavished praise on Sachin Tendulkar, who will complete 20 years in international cricket on November 15, saying the Indian ace is the "greatest player of the modern era".
"He (Tendulkar) has been brilliant. To have survived the tough test of public expectation in India is something, which should be commended. The runs [he has scored] are an added bonus. He's probably the greatest player to play the game in the modern era and compares with the (Donald) Bradmans and all the legends of the past," Sangakkara said.
"We run out of superlatives when talking about Sachin. He keeps getting better and better. Being that consistent under such pressure [from fans], especially at home is a wonderful thing," Sri Lanka's captain said.
Asked about any game-plan his team has for the upcoming three-Test rubber to contain the master batsman, Sangakkara gave a wry smile and said there can be plans and plans, which may not work against Tendulkar.
"A lot of people have game plan [for Tendulkar]. We have to see what works. When a batsman is scoring runs and doing the way Sachin is doing he will be a threat to any team. It's nothing new. I have been answering this question over the years [whether he would be a threat]. The answer is always 'yes'," he said.
Thumbs up to security
Sangakkara praised the security arrangements for his team in Mumbai in the wake of the terrorist attacks he and his team-mates encountered in Pakistan early this year.
"I think it [security arrangements] has been great. We all know it's never 100 per cent true. We have been through a bad experience in Pakistan," Sangakkara said at a press conference.
"We are here to enjoy. The Indian authorities are currently doing a great job, especially with the feedback from the Australian (ODI) tour. Hats off to the Indian authorities," he said.
He also took a philosophical view on the whole security issue and said either they accept the dangers that go with playing cricket in these times or sit at home.
"The option is play cricket and accept the risks or not play cricket at all and stay at home," the 32-year-old Lankan batting mainstay said.
