* Deserving winners of the life-time award

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the winners of the 2000 and 2001 CK Nayadu awards. No one disputed the choices - leg-spinner extraordinaire Subhash Gupte and renowned captain Nawab of Pataudi Jr.

The awards named after legendary all-rounder and India's first Test captain CK Nayadu honour the lifetime achievements of Indian stalwarts of yore.

Gupte, who claimed 149 wickets in 36 Tests, was only recently named as the finest of his tribe by none other than the legendary Sir Garry Sobers. He also is one of the few bowlers to claim ten wickets in an innings, a feat he achieved while appearing for Bombay against Pakistan Services and Bahawalphur CC in 1954. Currently, the 71-year- old lives in Trindidad where he settled in the late fifties after marrying a West Indian.

Pataudi Jr, rated by many to be the finest captains India produced, led India in 40 of the 46 Tests he played. He is one of only three Indian captains to have led India to three away wins (Sourav Ganguly and Bishen Singh Bedi are the other two). Despite losing an eye in a car accident, Pataudi Jr continued to be a dashing batsman aggregating 2,793 runs with six centuries at an average of 34.91.

Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) president AC Muthiah, former BCCI chief Raj Singh Dungarpur, Delhi cricket chief and union minister Arun Jaitley, PM Rungta of Rajasthan and BCCI honorary secretary Jaywant Lele were the men who made the decision.

* Studious Das

Shiv Sunder Das, who recently received his first one-day call-up, has started preparing for the South African tour in all earnestness.

"Absolutely… Actually, I've already started `studying'… Practising on a cement surface with wet tennis balls and spending hours with my personal coach (Kishore Mania), specially working on backfoot-play," Das told Kolkata's Telegraph on Sunday.

"I'm also trying to perfect getting out of harm's way of short-pitched bowling… I wasn't very comfortable in the (recent) Galle Test, largely because I wasn't watching the ball till that last fraction of a second.

"I did get things right after Galle but, really, the South Africans will always be getting at me and, so, longer hours (at nets) won't do any harm. Success will hinge on competent backfoot-play and smart ducking. The slightest clumsiness will be fatal… I'll continue working on both during the camp in Johannesburg, before the tour officially begins (October 1)."

Now that is one very smart and sincere man.

* Ghavri quits as Bengal coach

Former India player, Karsan Ghavri, has decided to resign as Bengal coach to spend time with his ailing mother in Mumbai. The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) though plans to speak to Ghavri on Monday before taking a final decision. "We will speak to him tomorrow. He wants two-three months' leave, which is not possible at this juncture. If he can't continue we will look for somebody else," CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya told the Telegraph on Sunday.

Ghavri meanwhile has made it clear that his decision to quit the job is final. "I can't be there for the entire season and this is not the ideal way of coaching a team. I sent my resignation about a week back. According to the situation, I have to come to Kolkata frequently which clashes with my mode of working as coach. There is no other alternative." The one-time new-ball partner of Kapil Dev though said that he was ready to return as Bengal coach during more favourable times.

* A facelift for Kotla

Get ready for a Ferozeshah Kotla with better seats ready to accommodate 45,000 people soon. A brand new clubhouse and taller east and west stands are also planned. Delhi and District Cricket Association chief Arun Jaitley told the Press Trust of India that these and other features could be in place as early as during India's one-dayer against England if their plan was approved immediately.

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