MUMBAI: The BCCI today announced a new integration with Twitter, one which allows fans worldwide to connect and say thank you to Sachin Tendulkar, like never before.

During the ongoing Test series between India and the West Indies, all Twitter users who send an appreciative message for Sachin to the @BCCI handle with the #ThankYouSachin hashtag will instantaneously receive a Tweet from @BCCI with a momentous picture of Sachin, including a personalised message and signature in his handwriting.

Since @BCCI announced the integration in a series of Tweets this morning, thousands of fans have participated, including several cricketers like Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir, to receive their own personal picture of Sachin.

@BCCI is encouraging its audiences to connect and tweet multiple times - via the web, TV and more - as there are many different images and messages that fans can avail of. The integration will be live, while the Kolkata and Mumbai Tests are being played. The service is supported by Twitter India and Digigraph.me. Twitter India applauded the service in a blog post this morning.

BCCI Honorary Secretary Sanjay Patel said: “Twitter has changed the way our fans, here and everywhere, stay connected to our sport and its personalities. We at the BCCI have always believed and invested in the power of mobile, digital and social. On the occasion of Sachin Tendulkar's retirement, we're delighted to work with Twitter and Digigraph and offer our fans this opportunity to thank Sachin and take home a piece of history.”

Twitter India market director Rishi Jaitly said: “Twitter is the world's leading real-time information network where users follow, share and experience content that is live, public and conversational. In India, Twitter has brought cricket fans closer to the sport and to cricketers directly and in real time. We applaud the BCCI for harnessing the power of our platform and launching this #ThankYouSachin campaign with Digigraph.”

Digigraph founder and CEO Barry Berkowitz said: “Digigraph.me is humbled and proud to help the BCCI and Twitter honour legendary Cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar, on the eve of his historic 200th Test for India. Cricket fans around the world can now celebrate this moment by requesting, claiming and sharing personalised, autographed, collectable digital photos from Sachin, instantly from their Twitter newsfeeds.”