Chappell, whose younger brother Greg could be sacked as India's coach next week following the team's first round exit from the World Cup, said Tendulkar was past his prime and must retire.
"At the moment he looks like a player trying to eke out a career; build on a glittering array of statistics," the senior Chappell wrote in the Mumbai-based Mid-Day newspaper.
"If he really is playing for that reason and not to help win as many matches as he can for India then he is wasting his time and should retire immediately.
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Tendulkar, one-day cricket's most successful batsman, managed only 64 runs in three World Cup matches, falling for seven against Bangladesh and clean bowled for zero against Sri Lanka.
India's stunning loss to Bangladesh and the subsequent defeat to Sri Lanka saw the 1983 champions and 2003 finalists crash out of the tournament in their worst World Cup performance since 1979.
India's cricket chiefs will meet in Mumbai on April 6 and 7 to discuss the World Cup deba