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Two of the most high profile teams in the IPL were playing at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday evening. I was looking forward to watching the riveting action. But I was denied the IPL pass despite being a former Test player.
It is quite humiliating to be told that my name is not on the roster of the Mumbai Cricket Association.
Having played a Test match for India at the Wankhede in 1977, played cricket in Mumbai as a registered MCA cricketer from 1973, being in the Managing Committee in 1989 and 1990 apart from being a Chief Guest at many MCA tournaments/ functions, one has to still endure such humiliation. It also shows how much a former, old cricketer is valued in today’s world.
It was in 1976 when I went to Mr SK Wankhede, asking for a pass for the India versus New Zealand Test match (my neighbour Ravi Shastri referred to the Test the other day during his acceptance speech for the stand honour).
I told Mr Wankhede then that I will be playing the next Test (vs England in the same 1976-77 season) at his stadium, so I will not bother him thereafter.
Mr Wankhede himself relayed the story in a function before the 1977 Test against England at a function. A little less than 50 years later, a full circle has emerged.
The Test player pass story has haunted me for the last four to five years; often ending up being given one in the stands as a goodwill gesture. I guess one has to accept that the past is irrelevant — “What do they know of cricket, that only cricket know?”
One wonders if the people at MCA know who penned this and I don’t expect them to know about CLR James. This piece is not to seek sympathy, it is to highlight the reality that many former cricketers face.
The writer is the first Test player (in 1977) to take five catches in an innings after Australia’s Vic Richardson did so in 1936.
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