No plans to honour the late Raj Singh during India vs Sri Lanka test at Brabourne
No plans to honour the late Raj Singh during India vs Sri Lanka test at Brabourne
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Test cricket returns to the Cricket Club of India (CCI) this week after 37 years. This special comeback was only possible because of Raj Singh Dungarpur's undying efforts to patch up with the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), who started hosting Test matches at their very own Wankhede Stadium after 1973.
Test cricket moved to Mumbai's third Test centre (after Bombay Gymkhana and CCI) because of a battle over tickets between CCI and MCA.
The CCI clinched an opportunity to host a few games during the 2006 Champions Trophy it was difficult for Raj Singh to conceal his delight then. But he wanted more. He told the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Chief Administrative Officer Prof Ratnakar Shetty that he wanted see the resumption of Test cricket at his beloved CCI.
Shetty conveyed the former BCCI chief's plea to his boss Sharad Pawar and the veteran politician obliged by allotting CCI the India vs England Test.
But that game was cancelled due to November 2008's terror attacks in Mumbai. On September 12 this year, Raj Singh passed away with his dream unfulfilled.
MiD DAY visited the Churchgate club on Saturday and was stunned to discover that there are no plans to do anything during the Test match to perpetuate the memory of Raj Singh.
It beggars belief that Raj Singh's very own institution has no place for even a photograph in his memory at the clubhouse.
At a condolence meeting to pay tribute to the departed administrator, Sachin Tendulkar suggested that the main gate be named after Raj Singh. Not because he picked him as a 16-year-old to tour Pakistan in 1989, but because it would be an apt honour for a man who put CCI back on the international cricket map.
According to CCI president Badal Mittal, the club is awaiting necessary permission to name the gate. One does not know whether this will ever come to fruition so should there not be another way of honouring the departed personality during the Test match? "One hundred per cent," says Shetty. "Rajbhai did everything possible to make CCI a cricket institution. In fact, he went one step further in patching up with the MCA. It was during his tenure as CCI president that the club started hosting Ranji Trophy matches.
"We (Shetty is also MCA treasurer) had the option of refusing our turn to host a Test but we agreed because of Rajbhai. He literally pleaded for a Test," adds Shetty.
Raj Singh made it a point to have photographs of cricketers past and present both Indian and foreign adorn the walls of every floor of the club. Anil Kumble, Dilip Sardesai and Hanumant Singh enjoy pride of place with special photographic sections.
No place?
But if you are looking for a frame of Raj Singh, you won't find it anywhere except if you happen to visit the president's cabin or the committee meeting room when there ought to be one as soon as you enter the clubhouse.
Jaideep Sinh Parmar, a nephew of Raj Singh, says: "Few might have chosen to forget, but for the many whose hearts he touched, and there are thousands across the world, he lives on.
"I knew my uncle (Dadusa) well. A gate, stand, wing or a photograph wouldn't have made a difference to him. What would have pleased him most is the hosting of this Test match. Wherever he is, he will be watching."
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