Sachin could smash Commonwealth Games for six

A BOLD decision by Indian cricket authorities to schedule two Tests against Australia during the Commonwealth Games has Games officials nervous that they could be eclipsed in their own country.

Sachin Tendulkar has unrivalled popularity in India and TV ratings surge when he produces a major innings.

Cricket can deflect interest from the Delhi Games with the first Test at Mohali (October 1-5) starting two days before the Games (October 3-14). The second Test is in Bangalore from October 9-13.

"I think you will find that there will be more people watching the cricket than the Games and the trouble will really start for the Games if Sachin Tendulkar gets going," Indian sports broadcaster Harsha Bhogle said.

"When Sachin gets going the whole country gets excited.

"After all the difficulties the Games have had most people would be happy so long as they pass without incident.

"We are not big on Games sports, though we have some big-name shooters and boxers.

"The Games will be big in Delhi, but it depends how our athletes go to see how it catches on elsewhere.

"Cricket was happy to take on the Games, but they really had no choice - they couldn't leave the tour any later because Australia had to get home and start its summer."

Olympics officials will pay special attention to the Commonwealth Games, hoping they activate interest in the one region where the Olympic movement feels neglected.

About a third of the world's population lives in the region, but it took until the last Olympics for India to produce an individual gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra in the men's 10m air rifle shooting.