Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) secretary Ratnakar Shetty and selection committee chairman Ajit Wadekar met Tendulkar at his residence on Friday evening to pay their condolences and know about his travel plans.

Prof Shetty informed The Indian Express that Tendulkar told them that he would return to England `at the earliest'.

``We did not want to probe him too much. The fact that Sachin is returning back to England itself is good news,'' opined Shetty.

But according to reliable sources, Tendulkar will take the British Airways flight in the wee hours of Saturday morning -- a long flight made painful as he will be travelling all alone with the memories of his departed father fresh on his mind. To add to his agony, he will have little timeovercoming the jet-lag before boosting the under-pressure India team for the game against Kenya on Sunday!

It's a do-or-die game for two-down India. Kenya cannot be underestimated as they not only have a win over India but had stunned the West Indies in the last World Cup. Which is precisely why the great need for Tendulkar to cut short his mourning. It is learnt that Tendulkar's immediate family members played a very supportive role in asking the national hero to answer the call of national duty.

``It is really creditable that even in this hour of grief, the country is still very much on his mind. He is also very disturbed by India's plight in the World Cup,'' Prof Shetty.

India needs to win the next three league matches if it has to have a chance of qualifying for the Super Six. And the presence of Tendulkar in the team line-up is sure to boost the sagging morale of our players and the nation.

Sachin's decision to re-join forces in the World Cup is certain. The speculation to that extent has endedby the decision of the ace batsman himself. However, what still remains open to speculation is the date of his departure.

The unexpected defeat against Zimbabwe meant that it's a do-or-die situation for India in the remaining three matches of the league.