Should the eligibility rules have been bent to allow Sachin Tendulkar to get the Bharat Ratna?

The government has modified rules to pave way for the eligibility of sportspersons for Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the country. The move comes amid clamour for conferring of the award on Tendulkar for his outstanding contribution to cricket. Should the government have made the changes in the eligibility criteria?