Tendulkar statue to be inaugurated at Wankhede, free popcorn and cold drink for fans on 2 November: report

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) will soon unveil a statue of legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar at the city's iconic Wankhede Stadium.World Cup 2023: News | Schedule | Results | Points tableAccording to a report in The Indian Express, the life-size statue of Tendulkar would be unveiled by the MCA at the Wankhede Stadium, ahead of India's Cricket World Cup match against Sri Lanka at the venue on 2 November.The statue has been manufactured by a prominent artist from Mahrashtra's Ahmednagar district.In February this year, Amol Kale, the president of MCA, had said that the board had decided to honour Tendulkar with a statue, that will be placed near the Sachin Tendulkar stand in the stadium. Tendulkar had turned 50 in April.“Tendulkar is a Bharat Ratna and everyone knows what he has contributed to cricket. As he turns 50, it will be a small token of appreciation from the Mumbai Cricket Association. I spoke to him three weeks ago and received his consent on the matter,” Kale was quoted as saying by The Indian Express in February.Tendulkar, too, had spoken on the unveiling of the statue, when he visited the location in March. “The committee guided me, and in the area outside the MCA lounge, there will be a roundabout which will be created, and the statue will come up there. The background of it will be the stadium and all our action happened there (inside the ground). It is one spot, a crowd can come and get pictures clicked, and at the same time it is accessible,” he had said.Tendulkar, whose highest part of his career was winning the World Cup in Mumbai in 2011, retired from international cricket in 2013. He has played 200 Tests and 463 ODIs for India, scoring 15,921 and 18, 426 runs in bith formats respectively. Tendulkar is a holder of multiple records, including the most number of ODI centuries (49), although Virat Kohli is close to equalling that record.Free popcorn, cold drink for fansThe Indian Express also reported that free popcorn and cold drinks would be offered to fans who are at the Wankhede Stadium to witness World Cup matches. The fans just have to show their tickets at the ticket counter and get it stampred, following which they will be provided with a one-time free popcorn and cold drink.“I had proposed to provide free one time popcorn and cold drink to all fans who turn up to watch World Cup games. It will be for non-hospitality areas. Once their tickets are stamped, free popcorn and coke will be given to each fan. The MCA will bear the cost of it. We will be starting this from India vs Sri Lanka game and it will be done till the semis. The MCA Apex members have agreed to the proposal,” Amol said, as per the report.After the India-Sri Lanka match on 2 November, Australia are scheduled to take on Afghanistan on 7 November at the venue. The second semi-final, slated for 16 November, will also be played at the Wankhede Stadium.