Dr Chandu Patankar, Sudhir Naik and Piloo Reporter honoured at BKC

Dr Chandu Patankar, Sudhir Naik and Piloo Reporter

Three cricket personalities honoured in two days shows that there is no shortage of appreciation for those who have contributed significantly to the willow game.

On Sunday, former India wicketkeeper-batsman Dr Chandu Patankar, 90, and ex-India batsman Sudhir Naik, 75, were felicitated by Aeges Federal Life Insurance at Mumbai Cricket Association's Bandra-Kurla Complex ground.

The duo received a silver plaque and Rs 51,000 each.

Patankar, Indian Test cricket's oldest surviving gloveman, played one Test - against New Zealand - at Kolkata in 1955-56.

Naik went on the 1974 tour of England and figured a bit in the 1974-75 home series against the West Indies. He led Mumbai to victory in the 1970-71 Ranji Trophy season when five players (Ajit Wadekar, Dilip Sardesai, Eknath Solkar, Ashok Mankad and Sunil Gavaskar) were on India duty. Naik later mentored cricketers through his association with National Cricket Club at Cross Maidan.

On Monday, former Test umpire Piloo Reporter, 82, was honoured by the Cricketers Foundation with a purse of Rs 75,000. Reporter, a popular umpire, officiated in the 1991-92 World Cups.

He and VK Ramaswamy were the first neutral umpires, who officiated in the 1986-87 Pakistan v West Indies Test series in Pakistan.