Sachin should continue playing as long as he wants: Brett Lee

New Delhi, Apr 9 (UNI) Under-fire Sachin Tendulkar got the backing from one of his nemesis when Aussie speedster Brett Lee said the master blaster should continue playing as long as he wants as ''he has still got the firepower to deliver at the big stage''.

''Sachin is a great player. He should continue playing cricket as long as he wants and should hang up his boots only when he feels its time to bid adieu to the game,'' said Lee, who missed the Caribbean World Cup due to an ankle injury.

While innaugurating the 40th Time Factory store of Timex Watches Limited here today, the Aussie said it was really pitty to see people suggesting the little master to quit from the game just because of a poor show in one tournamet.

''People should not criticise Sachin for a poor show in just one tournament. He is a great entertainer and messanger of world cricket. So leave him alone to decide about his career as he has given his entire life to cricket,'' Lee said.

Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell initiated the debate while writing a column for a Mumbai newspaper and advised Tendulkar to quit from international cricket following his disastrous World Cup campaign where he scored only 64 runs from his three innings in the group stages.

Chappell's views were, however, dismissed by former Indian cricketers, saying that considering Tendulkar's stature, the matter should be entirely left to him as he is best person to judge about his career.

UNI