It was a glitzy affair at the CAB annual prize distribution ceremony as the packed floor of Netaji Indoor Stadium greeted the stars of Bengal to a roaring applause.
The Guest of Honour was the honourable affable Chief Minister of Bengal Mamata Banerjee who won hearts of the CAB family with her pleasant personality and candour. She proposed that a statue of Late Jagmohan Dalmiya be installed by the CAB at the Eden Gardens. “The contribitions of Mr Dalmiya cannot be forgotten and I am sure he deserves a bust to be placed at Eden Gardens like Gostho Pal across the road,” she said.
Mamata Banerjee praised Jhulan Goswami for her performance giving women’s cricket the stature it deserved. She further urged Laxmi Ratan Shukla, MOS Sports and Youth Services, to align the cricket awards with the awardees of CAB. “We give awards to sportspersons from the Government. I urge Laxmi to give us the list of players who are awarded here from next year. We will also award them.”
Earlier, a dapper looking CAB President welcomed the Chief Minister and engaged the crowd with cricket annecdotes and administrative lessons. “I think I learnt more in those seven days while holding the T20 World Cup as my first task.as CAB President than I ever understood as a cricketer. My heartfelt gratitude to Didi at the way she responded to my sms–I need your help. She was in a programme but she called back and assured me all help.”
He then went on to talk about Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Palash Nandy and leading wicket taker in women’s cricket Jhulan Goswami. “My relation with Mr Nandy goes so far back that it has become a part of my life now. He was my first coach at Mohun Bagan and Ranji Team that won in 1990. As for Jhulan I can only say thr last time my mother saw a world cup final was the one I played in. This time she saw it for you. She is so proud at the way you played. Even if we missed the trophy by that little margin we have the T20 World Cup soon. I am sure you will do us proud.”
The U19 team was also felicitated on the occasion along with Manoj Tiwary and Abhishek Raman as best cricketer and emerging cricketer of the year. All the awards were given away by Mamata Banerjee.
On behalf of CAB, Sourav Ganguly presented a grandfather clock as a token of respect to Mamata Banerjee which she inturn have to CAB. “I do not have have such a big house. I accept the beautiful gift and give it back to CAB for them to keep it.”
In his speech Jt Secy Avishek Dalmiya expressed his gratitude to the chief minister for coming forward and helping CAB in all possible manner. “I cant express enough my admiration and gratitude towards our beloved chief minister. She has been a big help to us.”
Praising Jhulan, he said: “She has turned kanyasree into biswasree with her performance.” He also lauded the awardees for their rich contribution to Bengal cricket and the way they have taken it forward. He hoped that in future also CAB would also do pathbreaking work to take cricket forward like “including women’s cricket in Vision T20”.
Photographs by Anitirtha Mustafi (IBTN9)
