Pune, Dec. 23 (ANI): Saying that he would be missed, former and present cricketers hailed iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar's decision to quit the one-day format of the game on Sunday.

Former cricketer Chandu Borde, who was manager of the team on the tour of Pakistan in 1989, recounted Sachin's first innings against menacing fast bowlers such as Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram and Imran Khan after he was hit.

"He scored around 56 runs in his first innings against Pakistan in Sialkot. Prior to that, he was hit by Waqar Younis's delivery on his mouth and he was bleeding. We went onto the field and asked him to come to the dressing from for treatment, but he refused," said Borde.

"We dressed his wound there. He hit the next three balls for boundaries. On that, we realized that this player is going to serve Indian cricket for a long time," he added.

Former captain Mohammad Azharuddin, said everybody should respect his decision.

'I think his decision is a right decision. Everybody should respect his decision that he doesn't want to play one-day internationals. Young players will get an opportunity," said Azharuddin.

Present players Harbhajan Singh and Parthiv Patel, who are known admirers of one of the world's most prolific batsman, described his retirement from ODIs as a great loss to the game, and added that he would be missed.

"I have shared dressing room with him for 12 to 13 years. But it will be very difficult now that he will not be part of the dressing room in one-day cricket. The environment of dressing room will definitely change in a major way," said Harbhajan Singh.

"When I began playing, I also wanted to play like Sachin Tendulkar. Obviously, many players and people are going to miss him. It is difficult for any cricketer to describe in words," added Parthiv Patel.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday said it respected Sachin Tendulkar"s decision to retire from the one-day format in international cricket.

Earlier today, the BCCI's chief administrative officer said it respected Tendulkar's decision and it is not a shocker because he has also been thinking in those terms.

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar announced his retirement from the ODI format today, minutes before the selectors announced the team for the ODI series against Pakistan starting from December 25. (ANI)