JOIN USSyed 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
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The 65-year-old was unanimously chosen for the honour for the year 2015 by the BCCI’s Awards Committee in Mumbai on Thursday.
“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.
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.
“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.”
Kirmani also kept wickets for India’s quartet of Bishen Singh Bedi, Prasanna, Chandrashekar and S Venkataraghavan.