Former cricketers of Andhra go down memory lane

Some of the former Andhra cricketers with former India left-arm spinner S.L. Venkatapathi Raju at Gymkhana Ground.
| Photo Credit: V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

Some of them played the game in an era when they were paid a meagre ₹5 a day for a Ranji Trophy game, stayed in dormitories and travelled by train, mostly on unreserved compartments.

So, when some of the well-known cricketers of Andhra — M. Suresh, Hussain Shaikh, M.F. Rahaman , Jugal Kishore Ghia, P. Prasanna Kumar, R.S.R. Murthy, K. Ravi Shankar, V.S. Patel, H. Ram Prasad, for whom Hyderabad has been a ‘second home’ after some of them got jobs in the banks or other institutions here — got together at Gymkhana Ground to watch Andhra-Kerala Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T-20 match, they could not help but go down memory lane.

And, to their delight, one of Hyderabad’s most popular and jovial cricketers and former India left-arm spinner S.L. Venkatapathi Raju joined them to share some lighter moments.

But, it is unmistakable that these ‘oldies’ ensured there was continuity for the sport in Andhra, which often took a beating from the other big guns in South Zone such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad.

“I remember making my debut against Hyderabad, which had the likes of M.L. Jaisimha, ‘Tiger’ Pataudi, Abbas Ali Baig, to name a few. It was sheer passion for the game that defied all odds,” says J.S. Patel, former Andhra all-rounder.

“It is a pity that most former Ranji cricketers are not members of the Indian Cricketers Association for different reasons. I feel [that] all of them should be automatically members of the respective State associations also, with voting rights. And to let them enter the association, this 70-year age restriction should be removed, for most of us are fit and relevant even after crossing that age barrier,” he explains.

In a welcome gesture, some of the former cricketers pooled a decent amount towards the medical expenses of a former Ranji cricket, Ch. Shankar, in Vijayawada recently. The ACA also gives ₹10,000 a month to the former cricketers.

“Those who played for the State should be given some importance in the association, for any outstation players may not have the same commitment,” he said.