<p>Syed Mujtaba Hussein Kirmani, arguably India’s greatest wicketkeeper, termed the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award as a “huge recognition” of his services to Indian cricket</p>.<p>.<br /><br />The 65-year-old was unanimously chosen for the honour for the year 2015 by the BCCI’s Awards Committee in Mumbai on Thursday.<br /><br />“I received the communication (with regard to the award) only in the evening,” Kirmani told Deccan Herald. “Prof (Ratnakar) Shetty conveyed the news to me but before that I was flooded with calls from the media seeking my reaction. I didn’t know how to react! It was a great news nevertheless. To be recognised with this award, which carries the name of India’s first Test captain, is a great feeling. This award will have a special place in my heart and I thank the BCCI for bestowing upon me this honour,” he remarked.<br /><br />Kirmani joined the ranks of his team-mates EAS Prasanna, BS Chandrashekar (2004) and GR Viswanath (2008) who have been the recipients of this award from Karnataka.<br /><br />“I am proud to say that cricketers from our era were responsible in laying a strong foundation for Karnataka cricket,” Kirmani noted. “There is a sense of pride when I speak of these cricketers. I am proud to be associated with the likes of Prasanna, Chandra and GRV (Viswanath), cricketers of immense talent and standing. I must say my wicketkeeping rose to the standard it did because of the quality of bowlers we had like Prasanna and Chandra.”<br /><br />Kirmani also kept wickets for India’s quartet of Bishen Singh Bedi, Prasanna, Chandrashekar and S Venkataraghavan.</p>
<p>Syed Mujtaba Hussein Kirmani, arguably India’s greatest wicketkeeper, termed the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award as a “huge recognition” of his services to Indian cricket</p>.<p>.<br /><br />The 65-year-old was unanimously chosen for the honour for the year 2015 by the BCCI’s Awards Committee in Mumbai on Thursday.<br /><br />“I received the communication (with regard to the award) only in the evening,” Kirmani told Deccan Herald. “Prof (Ratnakar) Shetty conveyed the news to me but before that I was flooded with calls from the media seeking my reaction. I didn’t know how to react! It was a great news nevertheless. To be recognised with this award, which carries the name of India’s first Test captain, is a great feeling. This award will have a special place in my heart and I thank the BCCI for bestowing upon me this honour,” he remarked.<br /><br />Kirmani joined the ranks of his team-mates EAS Prasanna, BS Chandrashekar (2004) and GR Viswanath (2008) who have been the recipients of this award from Karnataka.<br /><br />“I am proud to say that cricketers from our era were responsible in laying a strong foundation for Karnataka cricket,” Kirmani noted. “There is a sense of pride when I speak of these cricketers. I am proud to be associated with the likes of Prasanna, Chandra and GRV (Viswanath), cricketers of immense talent and standing. I must say my wicketkeeping rose to the standard it did because of the quality of bowlers we had like Prasanna and Chandra.”<br /><br />Kirmani also kept wickets for India’s quartet of Bishen Singh Bedi, Prasanna, Chandrashekar and S Venkataraghavan.</p>
