Kambli invites Sachin to open his sports Academy

There may have been TV and media reports about rift between Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli's old friendship but if the common friend between the two is to be believed, India's master-blaster has promised his friend to grace the occasion when the new Khel Bharti Sports Academy is being opened by Vinod Kambli within two months in Mumbai.

"The invitation was extended to Sachin Tendulkar (now in England) on the day when Sunil Gavaskar delivered the inaugural Dilip Sardesai Memorial Cricket Lecture in Mumbai on July 2 and Sachin has promised to remain present, if he is in the city on that day", the common friend said on condition of anonymity.

"Kambli has joined relatively a small political Lok Bharti party (president : Kapil Patil) which will be funding for this academy", the source added. "Since this academy is for the children hailing from poor family, Sachin Tendulkar may have accepted the invitation", the source further added.

"Both still play Opingo Batingo when they meet", another common friend Ricky Coutto said. "This is a simple game, played for the sole purpose of inflicting pain by hitting the other person as hard as possible.

In brief, if you stand, you have to raise your index finger and say "Opingo" and if you sit, you have to put up your index and middle fingers and say "Batingo". If you don't, the person with whom you are playing the game has the right to hit you". "We all three (with Sachin and Vinod Kambli) enjoy this game", Ricky Coutto further added.

And yes, Sachin will be the loser if the friendship between the two is broken. During their school days, they were decided to have one wada-pav[vegetarian fast food] after each century. Kambli has presented dozens of wada pav to his pal.