Syed Kirmani nominated for Nayudu award

NEW DELHI: Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Syed Kirmani has been chosen for the CK Nayudu lifetime achievement award for 2015. The award, the highest honour given by the Indian board to a former player, comes with a trophy, citation, and a cheque for Rs 2.5 millions.

One of India’s finest keepers, Kirmani effected 198 dismissals in 88 Tests, and was particularly immaculate behind the stumps to India’s spin quartet of Erapalli Prasanna, S Venkataraghavan, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and Bishen Singh Bedi. Kirmani was also a capable batsman lower down the order, scoring close to 3000 Test runs, including two centuries, at an average of 27.04.

Kirmani played 49 ODIs for India, making 373 runs. His best performance as a batsman was the 126-run partnership with Kapil Dev in the World Cup game against Zimbabwe in Turnbridge Wells.