Dubai, Oct 24 IANS Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, a great cr

SPO13 Sports Shah Rukh backs senior India players Dubai, Oct 24 IANS Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, a great cricket fan, could not suppress his anguish at the growing calls for the retirement of senior India stalwarts from international cricket. Shah Rukh said Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble and V.V.S Laxman are great players with an outstanding record. "They have given such immense joy to cricket fans that they should be allowed to leave on their own terms," King Khan said. Asked to comment on Ganguly's retirement from international cricket after the ongoing four-Test series against Australia, Shah Rukh said: "It is his decision. Sportsmen like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav, Anil Kumble and others are great achievers. The kind of hard work and perseverance they have shown in their profession is amazing." Shah Rukh told IANS. "I believe nobody else should decide about when they should play, how they should play, and when they should go," he said. Shah Rukh, who is a co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders Indian Premier League team, said Ganguly will continue to play an important role in his team. "I respect him too much. It's an honour that he is a part of Kolkata Knightriders and he has played a key role in raising the team." --Indo-Asian News Service ab/av/vs 234 Words 24101721