Former Indian wicketkeeper batsman Farooq Engineer has strongly dismissed Moin Khan's observation saying Sachin Tendulkar [Images] is certainly not on decline and will bounce back to make the Pakistani "eat his words".

"Sachin has reached his peak but certainly he is not on the decline. He will bounce back and make Moin Khan eat his words. Experience will only make him better," Engineer said.

Engineer was reacting to Moin Khan's recent column in which he had written: "I get that the downhill journey for the little champion has started... what prompted Sachin to leave the pitch... Hostile bowling by Shoaib Akhtar [Images], or the tension-filled dressing room atmosphere that often gets on the nerves of the batsmen who start feeling suffocated?"

• Beginning of the end for Sachin? Tell us!

Former England [Images] captain Nasser Hussein also guarded Tendulkar against any such criticism saying the Indian is one of the greatest batsmen ever played and should not be written off.

"Watch out any one who writes off Tendulkar," Hussain said on Saturday after receiving the HSBC Life Time Achievement Award 2005 organised by Sony Entertainment Television at the Hilton Hotel in London [Images].

"Sachin is one of the greatest batsmen ever played. Though he is idolised as a demi-God in India, he is human and he may have a lean period but he deserves credit for what he has done," he said.

About England's prospects in India in the forthcoming tour, Hussain said: "England have the ability to do well in India. But India in India will be very competitive and one has to watch out. England need to work hard to get 20 wickets and get the upper hand."