MUMBAI: Like umpiring, scoring is a thankless job, but an integral part of cricket. You slog the whole day, but no one will take notice. However, one mistake can invite severe criticism. It was, thus, heartening to see the Mumbai Cricket Association organize a felicitation function for Mumbai’s scorers’ at The Lounge, in the premises of the iconic Wankhede Stadium on September 12, in a grand fashion.
It was a first of its kind programme, held exclusively for scorers and statisticians, and was well attended by many current and former scorers, and also those who had cleared the recently-held scorers’ exams of the MCA and are yet to actually get into scoring.
Present on the occasion were MCA secretaries Sanjay Naik, jt secretary Shahalam Shaikh, treasurer Jagdish Achrekar, members of the Apex Council, MCA Executive Secretary CS Naik and MCA GM Kinjal Patel. Khodadad Yazdegardi, who is the coordinator of the Scorers and Statistical Sub Committee and Apex Council member, delivered the welcome address.
Senior scorer and statistician Sudhir Vaidya, and two senior BCCI panel scorers, Ramesh Parab and Uday Gharat, now retired, were all felicitated with a shawl, a citation, a bouquet and a purse of Rs 30,000, by the MCA.
A few other senior and retired scorers, who had served in the MCA as scorers in various local matches, too were felicitated. Some of the scorer’s families were felicitated as the awards were given posthumously.
The toppers of MCA’s scoring exams right from 2001 were also handed over trophies. All-Mumbai based present BCCI scorers and Video Analysts hailing from Mumbai were presented with mementos. The scorers had gathered in large numbers for this unique celebration, with some having travelled from Pune and Baroda.
Speaking on the occasion, Sanjay Naik expressed his surprise that such a program was never held for the scorers in the past and that their prizes were pending from 2001. He felt that this function should be an annual affair. Vivek Gupte, chairman of the Scorers and Statistical Sub Committee, said, that though this was a welcome beginning, a lot still needed to be done for the scorers, who are otherwise quiet workers in the background, though they are an integral part of the game.
