Tendulkar to promote T20s in the US in all-star match-up

“During last year’s MCC bicentenary match at Lord's, I realised that all of us, I mean the former cricketers, still have a lot of passion left. We realised that crowds still come and fill up the stadiums when we play. That’s when I felt that we could continue with our passion and also promote cricket in different parts of the world,” Tendulkar told PTI in an interview.

Although an official ODI between New Zealand and the West Indies has been played in Florida, cricket has not exactly caught on in the US even as former greats including Curtly Ambrose and Ricky Ponting get ready to enthrall fans in this part of the world.

“The basic idea is to get the locals excited and get them involved with the game of cricket. This is an ideal opportunity to globalise the game. It gives us the opportunity to take cricket to the United States,” said Tendulkar, who holds the record for most number of runs and centuries in Test and ODI cricket.

“Many of my friends would travel to India to watch me play, but this will give all the opportunity to watch all these superstars live in action," added Tendulkar, who retired from international cricket in 2013.

Tendulkar has started training at Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex. “Well, I haven't started practising with that intensity, but it is a slow start. I gradually plan to build it up.”

 Matches will be played in New York, Los Angeles and Houston on November 7, 11 and 14 respectively.