Sachin Tendulkar will be missed: Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar's retirement has invited a reaction from the United Nations as well.

"We will miss him," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's acting deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters when asked if the UN Secretary-General has any thoughts on Tendulkar's retirement.

Haq said the 40-year-old's retirement is a big day for the sports icon.

The batting superstar is playing his 200th Test in Mumbai against West Indies, after which he will bring the curtains down on a 24-year-old career during which he made innumerable records that will be hard to surpass for several years.

Tendulkar, who has scored over 15,000 Test runs and 18,000-plus one-day international runs, is being feted not only in India but by fans across the world, with leading US publications also saying he will be "irreplaceable."

Haq said that while he is not aware how much the UN chief is following Tendulkar's retirement, "I certainly am aware".