Syed Kirmani, the former India wicketkeeper, has been nominated for the Col. C. L. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, according to a press release from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The Awards Committee, consisting of BCCI President Shashank Manohar, Secretary Anurag Thakurk, and N. Ram, former Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu, met at the board's headquarters in Mumbai, and came up with Kirmani's nomination unanimously.
The BCCI celebrates the birth centenary of Col. Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu, the country’s first Test captain, by instituting an annual Lifetime Achievement Award, to honour individuals for their unparalleled contribution to Indian cricket, on and off the field. The Award comprises a trophy, citation and a cheque for Rs. 25 lakhs.
Kirmani, made his Test debut in 1976 against New Zealand, and soon got accustomed to keeping wickets to India’s famous spin quartet — Bishen Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, and Srinivas Venkataraghavan. Having started his career as an understudy to Farokh Engineer, Kirmani took over the responsibility and added his charm to the role in a decade-long career. It was thanks to his tenacious approach that he scored two Test centuries in the lower order.
Against England in 1981-82, he did not concede a single bye in three consecutive Tests. Named the best 'keeper in the 1983 World Cup, it was Kirmani who shared an unbeaten 126 runs partnership with Kapil Dev against Zimbabwe as the Indian captain went on to register one of India’s greatest wins at Tunbridge Wells.
Kirmani also provided solid support to Sunil Gavaskar in the unbroken 143-run stand for the ninth wicket as Gavaskar made 236 not out, the then top score by an Indian, against in the sixth Test against West Indies in Chennai (then known as Madras). The Indian government awarded him the Padma Shri in 1982.
He was the vice-president of Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and also the chairman of the national selection committee.
PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE AWARD
1994 – Lala Amarnath
1995 – Syed Mushtaq Ali
1996 – Capt. Vijay Hazare
1997 – K. N. Prabhu
1998 – P. R. Umrigar
1999 – Col. Hemachandra Adhikari
2000 – Subhash Gupte
2001 – Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi
2002 – Bhausaheb Nimbalkar
2003 – Chandrakant Borde
2004 – B.S. Bedi, B. Chandrasekhar, E. A. S. Prasanna, S. Venkataraghvan
2007 – Nariman Contractor
2008 – Gundappa Viswanath
2009 – Mohinder Amarnath
2010 – Salim Durani
2011 – Ajit Wadekar
2012 – Sunil Gavaskar
2013 – Kapil Dev
2014 – Dilip Vengsarkar
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