Sachin tableau flagged off in Kolkata

A tableau bearing the life-size cardboard cutouts of "Master Blaster" Sachin Tendulkar and festooned with lights, was flagged off from the Eden Gardens here Sunday.

Tendulkar had earlier announced that the two-Test series against the West Indies will be his last. He will play his 199th Test at the Eden Gardens here Nov 6-10 and his farewell match at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium Nov 14-18.

Through photographs of both professional and personal moments, the tableau celebrates moments from Tendulkar's iconic 24-year-long cricketing career that saw him achieve milestones.

"The vehicle will move across the city during the entire Test and will be an opportunity for fans to connect with Tendulkar through the photos," Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) treasurer Bishwarup Dey told IANS.

With songs dedicated to Tendulkar blaring from powerful sound boxes, the tableau rolled into action from the CAB office at the Eden Gardens. It was flagged off by CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya, Minister for Sport and Transport Madan Mitra, and CAB joint secretaries Subir Ganguly and Sujon Mukherjee, among others.

Fans will be encouraged to write farewell wishes on a message board on the vehicle, and these will be forwarded to Tendulkar after the match.

In the rear of the tableau is a photo of a very young Tendulkar resting on the lap of his mother, with his father looking on.