After five years of retirement, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar launched his cricket academy last month. The Master Blaster joined forces with Middlesex Cricket to launch the academy which will offer coaching to budding male and female cricketers between the ages of 9 and 14.

The academy's first camp will be held in Northwood, London and will then move to other places in England's capital and Mumbai.

In an exclusive interview with CCN Sport, Tendulkar said the aim of the academy is not solely to produce quality cricketers, but also "good human beings."

"As a child I learned a few things from my father. One message which particularly stayed with me was: 'Okay, playing for India was your dream but what happens after this? Where do you go from here? Of course you want to be a good cricketer, but I also want you to be a good person. So people continue to love you beyond your cricketing years.' And that is one message I want to share here with the children,” Tendulkar quoted.

"It's not just about becoming a good cricketer, but it's about bettering yourself as a person. That process never stops in life," he added.

Tendulkar believes the classroom or boardroom doesn’t necessarily teach you the valuable lessons of life. The batting maestro cited his own example, saying that he learnt a lot by being out there on the field as part of a team.

"I think it goes beyond your knowledge and your grasping ability sitting in the classrooms. So it gives you real life lessons and it teaches you teamwork,” Tendulkar remarked.

"In most sports where a team in involved, you learn to sacrifice for each other because there are going to be good days and bad days. How do you move forward as a team is something that sport has taught me," he explained.

Sachin Tendulkar is adored and admired by masses all across the globe. The adulation is evident when he visits Middlesex County Cricket Club in London earlier this week.

"When I turned up here in the morning the kind of reception I got (was great), especially from all the children. It took me back 35 years when I started my cricket, I was their age and the enthusiasm, the vibrant energy was very much there and that's what I told the children. Continue with this energy,” the batting legend asserted.

"It's a blessing, I cannot complain. I would want to tell all the people: 'Continue to love me like this. It's a blessing, thank you so much.'" he concluded.