Mumbai - India's star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who will be missing seven one-dayer against England due to an injury of his right shoulder, said: "This is not the beginning of the end of his cricket career".

''I am enjoying my game right now,'' Tendulkar told The Times of India newspaper, adding that he will keep playing as long as he enjoys it and can ''keep performing.''
On Tuesday, Indian selectors said that Tendulkar, 33, is suffering from a cyst and a tear in his right shoulder that will require surgery in London.

''Depending on the outcome of surgery, he will be unavailable for approximately eight weeks,'' M. P. Pandove, a top cricket board official, told reporters.

Tendulkar said that he had problems with his shoulder for the past two to three months. ''Every sports person has these niggles, but that doesn't stop them from playing.''

''Unfortunately, in my case, it has aggravated and the physios and doctors now feel it would be better if I undergo a minor surgery. That would avoid a major surgery in the future,'' the daily quoted Tendulkar as saying.