BALLIA: Uttar Pradesh sports minister on Sunday offered cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar to join Samajwadi Party .

"I wish Sachin to join SP if he wants to play political innings," Narad Rai told reporters here.

"Both Congress and BJP believe in use-and-throw policy and he (Sachin) should remain aware of it," the minister said.

Rai welcomed the decision to bestow Sachin with the Bharat Ratna.

Sachin retired from international cricket on Saturday after playing his 200th Test match against West Indies at Mumbai.