Flight of top players leaves league sans quality

But over the years the Kanga League (named after one Mumbai Cricket Association’s (MCA) president in the 30s and 40s and the first Indian to score a double hundred in first class cricket) has suffered from the same ills that afflict domestic first class cricket — erosion of quality caused by the absence ofinternational players.

In the halcyon days of the league, one remembers Sunil Gavaskar zipping in from abroad in the wee hours of the morning and exhibiting his Dadar Union loyalties without a care for his jet-lagged body. Madhav Apte, 20 years older than Gavaskar, still does that for his club!

It’s such commitment which made Dadar Union Division A champions for a record 12 times and the famed Shivaji Park Gymkhana (SPG) winners on 10 occasions. And the clashes between the two giants were regarded as Kanga League’s Battle of the Roses.

Today, Dadar Union struggles to field a eleven. A few years back a long-retired Gavaskar turned out for them following an SOS. The club even had to endure the ignominy of being relegated to B Division. Sad for a club which had inspirationals names on in its rolls like Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Sanjay Manjrekar, besides several first class players.

GREENER PASTURES: In recent years, the glamour of the league has been shorn by the absence of leading players, who areeither playing for the country or grazing on profitable pastures of United Kingdom and East Africa. By the time they complete their overseas engagements and return home in the first week of October, the Kanga League is close to completion.

While yesteryear heavyweights like Dadar Union and SPG have slipped badly, teams like National and MIG have risen. National have won the A Division title every year since 1993, except in 1996 when all promotions and relegations were stalled and 1997, when MIG emerged champs.

“National has done well because their players show strong club loyalties. They show the commitment what Dadar Union used to show in the past without bothering what they would get in return,” says Milind Rege, Mumbai selector and former Ranji Trophy skipper, who played two decades for Dadar Union before a bypass surgery brought an end to his playing days in 1985.

Sudhir Naik, National coach and former India opener, says his players plough the prize money won in various tournaments into theclub’s kitty instead of filling their own pockets. “There is also tremendous bonding in the team which is reflected when they come from abroad with gifts for every member in the team,” he adds.

K Satyamurthy, who played three decades for A Division side Indian Gymkhana and who served on the Kanga League sub-committee for five years, also feels strongly about players attaching price tags to their loyalties. The advent of the mercenary culture has demoralised regular members with playing loyalties for their clubs. “The camaraderie of old is lost and players have become self centred. The ills reflect on the national scene,” opines Satyamurthy.

The articulate veteran also believes administrators are to be partly blamed for the decline. “There is too much tampering of the rules. They are pulling the teeth out of the tiger,” says Satyamurthy.

Division `A’ roll of honour

Highest total: 529 by Dadar Union vs PJ Hindu Gymkhana

Lowest total: 10 by Khar Gymkhana vs Shivaji Park Gymkhana, 1956 and10, Parsi Cyclists vs Karnatak Sporting Association, 1988

Highest indivdual score: 188 by Gopal Koli (New Hind) vs United Cricketers, 1972

Highest career aggregate: 5046, Madhav Apte (CCI & Jolly Cricketers)

Highest individual aggregate in a season: 560 by Madhav Mantri (CCI), 1948

Best bowling in an innings: 10-20, V Dutt (Dadar Union) vs Rajasthan, 1982

Best bowling in a match: 17-44, PS Shetty (Jolly Cricketers) vs MB Union CC, 1978

Most wickets in a season: 94 for 526 in 12 matches by Padmakar Shivalkar, 1972

Most wickets in a career: 759 by Vithal Patil (Dadar Union)