Sachin set for Durban honour

Updated on: 08 January,2011 06:51 AM IST |
Sai Mohan |

On January 8, there will be a felicitation ceremony to commemorate the arrival of the Indian community here in South Africa 150 years ago, on November 16, 1860

On January 8, there will be a felicitation ceremony to commemorate the arrival of the Indian community here in South Africa 150 years ago, on November 16, 1860.

To cap that, there will be a Twenty20 international between South Africa and India this Sunday here at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, a match that will also provide a fitting send-off to Makhaya Ntini, South Africa's iconic first-ever black cricketer.

Ntini will receive an award for his services to the game from President Jacob Zuma. Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar will also receive the same honour. Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Anil Kapoor are also expected to be a part of the extravaganza.

Grateful
"I am grateful to Cricket South Africa for giving me this opportunity to say goodbye to my fans in SA and throughout the cricketing world," Ntini said yesterday. "It's going to be a full stadium and it is going to be televised around the world. And that is fantastic.

They (the fans) love me and they have spent every moment with me and it is going to be a great moment. It will be an emotional game. It would be an emotional moment for anybody. Finishing and saying goodbye to something that you love....that will make it a special day," he said.