Vijay Shankar won the coveted Bishnuram Medhi award for the State cricketer-of-the-year at the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association’s (TNCA) 85th annual day here on Thursday.
Vijay Shankar received the award from chief guest Brijesh Patel, former India cricketer and now the secretary of the Karnataka State Cricket Association.
Speaking on the occasion, Brijesh lauded the contribution of ICC chairman and TNCA president N. Srinivasan. He said, “As the ICC chairman, Srinivasan, who is a hard bargainer, got the best deal for India. Contributing the highest revenue, India rightfully deserved the biggest share. The money India received is being put back into cricket, which is good for the game in the country.”
Brijesh said few BCCI presidents had accomplished what Srinivasan had achieved in caring for and doing his bit for former cricketers. He said, “Srinivasan put a system in place. The former cricketers received increased pension and payments.”
The KSCA secretary complimented the corporates in Chennai for supporting cricket in a big way, and said the TNCA league was one of the best in the country.
Srinivasan, who felicitated umpire S. Ravi for entering the ICC’s Elite Panel, said, “The portents are good for Tamil Nadu cricket.”
Although the team fell at the final hurdle to Karnataka, Srinivasan appreciated the performance of the Tamil Nadu squad in reaching the Ranji final.
He thanked the State government for the staging of the IPL matches at Chepauk this year, and was confident that the clearances for the three stands that remained closed for the public would be secured soon.
Turning to former South African cricketer and the present chief executive of ICC, Dave Richardson (TNCA’s Special Invitee for the occasion), Srinivasan said, “He (Richardson) was very impressed with the domestic structure in India.”
Srinivasan said the districts in Tamil Nadu would continue to be supported, and added that bigger matches would be staged in those parts.
Former India leg-spinner L. Sivaramakrishnan anchored the programme. K.S. Viswanathan, secretary, TNCA, read the annual report.
Major award winners:Bishnuram Medhi Trophy (cricketer-of-the-year): Vijay Shankar; V. Jagannathan Memorial Trophy (best bowler in Ranji Trophy): Rahil Shah; T. Vasu Naidu Memorial Trophy (best fielder in Ranji Trophy): B. Indrajith; M.A.M. Ramaswamy Endowment (consistent performance in Ranji Trophy): B. Indrajith; N.N. Suvarna Memorial Trophy (highest aggregate in Ranji Trophy): Dinesh Karthik; Baliah Memorial Trophy (collegiate cricketer-of-the-year): K. Bharath Shankar (SRM); R.T. Parthasarathy Trophy (cricketer-of-the-year from the districts): N. Jagadeesan (Coimbatore DCA); C. Subramaniam Trophy (school cricketer of the year): R. Sonu Yadav (Swami Vivekananda MHSS, Krishnagiri); S.W. De Allwis Trophy (junior school cricketer-of-the-year): P. Pradosh Ranjan Paul (Subbiah Central School, Tirupur).
TNCA league:First division: Elite (Raja of Palayampatti Shield): Vijay CC; Plate (S.R. Jagannathan Trophy): IOB.
Overall championship winners:Second division (C.P. Johnstone Shield): ICF SA; Third division (C.R. Pattabhiraman Shield): Crombest RC; Fourth division (Bishop Waller Shield): Sir Theagaraya RC; Fifth division (Dr. P. Subbarayan Shield): Nungambakkam CC; Sixth division (P.V.H. Babu Shield): Indian Oil.
Ghulam Ahmed prize for the outstanding schoolboy cricketer in South Zone: M.S. Washington Sundar (Globe Trotters SC).
Best woman cricketer-of-the-year: M.D. Thirushkamini; Promising woman cricketer-of-the-year: Nida Rehman.
Special award for scoring 486 not out in an inter-school tournament: S. Sankruth Sriram, J.S.S. International School, Nilgiris.
Distinction of completing 25 years as TNCA scorer: T. Chennakesavalu.
