Former cricketers of Andhra go down memory lane

Renowned former Andhra cricketers reminisce about their humble beginnings and advocate for better recognition and support in the sport.

Among the spectators of the Andhra-Kerala Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T-20 match at Gymkhana Ground here were some of the renowned players of Andhra cricket, who made their names in an era when the pay was a paltry ₹5 a day for a Ranji Trophy game.

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’, went down memory lane as they stood watching the match progress. 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.

They recalled how some of them had stayed in dormitories and travelled by train, mostly in unreserved compartments, for tournaments.

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.