Shiv Lal, the curator of Green Park Stadium, dates again to 2008, when MS Dhoni captained India for the primary time in a Test and after successful the match in opposition to South Africa, on the grounds of Green Park Stadium with a thanks and a word of Rs 10,000 Sent. Staff.
Also in 1996, Chhotelal, the pinnacle groundsman of Green Park, employed a turner for the decider of the India-South Africa sequence. Sachin Tendulkar-led India gained and the then head coach Madan Lal supplied a reward of Rs 25,000 to the groundsman.
Chhotelal discovered from his mistake in 1983, when he sported a inexperienced high whereas permitting Malcolm Marshall to lick his lips. A sniffer noticed Sunil Gavaskar’s bat fall from his palms as India suffered an innings defeat. Brickbats adopted.
The announcement of the press field in Kanpur on the ultimate day of the India vs New Zealand first Test supplied a novelty. Never earlier than has an age-old follow been made public like this, that India’s present head coach Rahul Dravid will reward the bottom workers with a reward of Rs 35,000 for making ready the pitch for the sport. The Indian workforce additionally confirmed its beneficiant aspect in Mumbai, providing a reward of Rs 35,000 to the bottom workers of the Wankhede Stadium after the second Test.
They continued a convention very oriental. From Kapil Dev to Dhoni, by way of Mohammad Azharuddin, Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Dravid and Ajinkya Rahane; Everyone has loosened the purse strings to reward the gardeners.
Having been a part of the circuit for a very long time, the gamers and the teaching workers acknowledge the tireless work of the bottom workers. They perceive how an additional spherical of rolling or somewhat further use of the mower could make the distinction between successful or shedding a Test. A money reward is a token of their appreciation.
Curators are properly paid by their respective state associations. The actual change-makers will not be the Malis. The money reward is for them, males who do guide labour. And the generosity shouldn’t be restricted to the Indian workforce or Indian cricket. This is a really subcontinental customized.
Back in November 1998, Mahesh carried out a miracle in Dhaka. He was the pinnacle groundsman of Eden Gardens for 25 years and when Bangladesh hosted the inaugural ICC Champions Trophy (then ICC Knockout Trophy), ICC President Jagmohan Dalmiya briefly requested him to take care of the pitches. On the day of the ultimate, Mahesh was combating in opposition to the chances.
“There was a rain last-eve and when I reached Bangabandhu Stadium early in the morning on the day of final, the ground was like a big swimming pool. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials conceded defeat. I asked for some extra buckets and extra manpower which seemed like an impossible task. The drainage of the stadium was not proper. Things had to be done manually,” remembers Mahesh, now 70-plus, for The Indian Express.
He gained the race in opposition to time and his work was spectacular sufficient even for former India captain S Venkataraghavan – one of many umpires within the match – to let go of his stoicism and respect it. “I told them, we are Indians and we believe that nothing is impossible,” Mahesh nonetheless remembers.
After the ultimate, as he was on his manner in direction of the airport, he was stopped by the then BCB secretary. Just a few extra days and sightseeing was organized for Mahesh in Dhaka. But the latter was homesick. “The secretary hugged me and put a $100 bill in my pocket.”
Curator Shiv Lal (third from left within the blue cap) was overwhelmed by Dravid’s gesture.
The captain acknowledges the trouble
Mahesh and his colleagues have benefited from the generosity of Indian captains after each worldwide match at Eden – Azharuddin, Tendulkar and his much-loved Maharaj (Sourav Ganguly). “Teams mentor us even after home matches,” he says. “Look, we oversee the preparations for the pitch and the ground. But the main work is done by the ground staff. The players know this and therefore reward them. This has been happening for a long time. Sometimes, foreign teams have also done this,” Pankaj Babu, curator of Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, tells this paper.
Talking about foreigners, former Australia captain Steve Waugh has at all times been completely different from the remaining. “I remember how Steve Waugh gave me the memento he got after winning 16 Tests on the bounce,” recollects Nadeem Memon, curator of the Mumbai Cricket Association. He talks about Kapil and Azhar, who at all times have time for the bottom workers. “They often rewarded employees, including the catering staff.”
Former Wankhede Stadium groundsman Vijay Tambe, who labored on the venue for 36 years, expressed his gratitude to the likes of Dravid, Tendulkar and Rahane. “Rahul Dravid and Ajinkya Rahane are two gamers who at all times used to ask about our whereabouts. Rahane even invited us to his marriage ceremony. Earlier additionally Dravid used to provide some cash to the workers. When Tendulkar retired, he gave us Rs 50,000 and thanked us for all of the work we did. It was a great gesture. I additionally keep in mind, at any time when Kapil Dev performed right here, he gave us one thing or the opposite. This helped many people. The wage was not that prime. As groundsmen, we by no means anticipated something from anybody.”
Coming again to Green Park, curator Shiv Lal was overwhelmed by Dravid’s gesture. “Green Park was hosting a Test match after a gap of five years. Hosting a Test match is a big deal and maintaining this pitch for five years has also been a big challenge. We had worked tirelessly even during Covid-19,” he says.
For the primary time within the historical past of Kanpur, a Test match went on the final ball on the fifth day. Head Groundsman Shiv Kumar’s reward was excellent. “BCCI has always promoted the curators, but this small move by Rahul Dravid will give a boost to the groundsman. They are the ones who produced the great pitch, as we saw an exciting draw,” says Lal.
Indian cricket workforce coach Rahul Dravid wanting on the Wankhede pitch in Mumbai. (AP)
cash Matters
Former BCCI chief curator Daljit Singh harassed on the truth that a token of appreciation serves as a motivation for the bottom workers to do even higher. “It’s a big deal for the groundsmen. They’ve always been overworked and underpaid. They come to the field every day at five in the morning and leave the field at around eight in the night. Their reward is minimal, although their pay nowadays is It has increased. I have seen them work for Rs 600 a month, but now the head groundsman at the PCA stadium gets Rs 18,000, which is fair,” says Daljit: “Paying money to groundsmen has always been a factor in Indian cricket. It’s been practice. I’ve seen it in my playing days too. It’s for groundsmen, not curators.”
Rewarding floor workers shouldn’t be restricted to worldwide cricket alone. As famous by Vijay, Head Groundsman at Maharaja Yadvendra Singh Cricket Stadium (Mullanpur, Mohali): “It has been the norm in home cricket to go after each four-day recreation. After the match, the match officers will give round Rs 2,000-5,000. Sometimes the successful groups may also reward the bottom workers. In my early years on the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali, one of many shedding groups even gave us cash.
In Bihar too, as curator Raju Valls places it, the groundsman is given a money prize by the match referee and the umpire. “They get round Rs 5,000-10,000 after efficiently conducting a match. It’s an everyday follow in home tournaments.”
Salary for floor workers varies amongst state associations. Delhi and District Cricket Association and Tamil Nadu Cricket Association are referred to as good payers. The groundsmen are additionally very properly taken care of by the Haryana Cricket Association. “We are paid Rs 18,000-20,000 per month and we also have medical insurance that covers our families,” says Pati Ram, head groundsman at Lahli.
Eden curator Sujan Mukherjee referred to as for streamlining the method underneath the cricket board. “It would be a good gesture for the BCCI to give a lump sum amount to the ground staff, which will be from the revenue from international cricket and the IPL.”
(With inputs Devendra Pandey and Ashish Satyam)
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
