PTI

Colombo, Jan 24: Sachin Tendulkar has achieved enough in his 18-year career to deserve knighthood, said former Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga sharing the views of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

"I think he is one of the top batsmen produced by the cricketing world. He has achieved a lot and I don’t think any cricketer will have problems in his getting the coveted title," Ranatunga told reporters. "I think he has done a great deal for Indian cricket. Why not? It is a good suggestion by the British Prime Minister," he said.

Ranatunga, who is also the chairman of Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC), lauded Tendulkar's sportsman spirit. "He is a good sport. I have played lot of cricket with him. We have never had any problems when it came to umpiring decisions. Whenever he is out, he always walks."

The 44-year-old former player said such quality of Asian players was exemplary and should be followed by the players of other countries. "If you see, most of the Asian cricketers do not wait for the (umpire's) decision to walk.

Even (Kumar) Sangakkara walks without waiting for the umpire to give him out. This is something that the ICC should show it to the world. And try and get the other cricketers to implement the good cricketing values," he said.