It was during the off-season camp in 2004 at Mohali that I first met Dronacharya awardee coach Desh Prem Azad. I was selected to the Punjab U-17 team for the Vijay Merchant Trophy. Though,Punjabs chief coach then was Daljeet Singh,the state association had also sought the services of Desh Prem Azad. He was scheduled to visit us at the nets and pass on some of the immense knowledge he possessed. As Azad made his way through the practice area at the Mohali stadium,the entire team was surprised to see him in cricket whites. Dressed in relaxed attire,we were quite sheepish. Azad signalled the team to regroup. Then came the first question. Why arent all of you in whites? As we attempted to explain,he shut us up quickly and gave us a half hour lecture on discipline and how it was the difference between good and great cricketers. I remember another Azad story narrated by one of his students and former Test player Yograj Singh,father of Yuvraj Singh. Once we were practicing at the nets in the Sector-16 stadium. This was in 1983 and India under the captaincy of Kapil Dev had just won the World Cup. Azad Sahab was overseeing the net session and as usual,there was absolutely silence. Suddenly,we saw our friend Kapil climbing down the pavilion staircase,making his way towards the nets. He must not have gotten three sets of steps down when a shout from Azad Sahab froze him, Yograj Singh recalled. You see,Kapil was wearing a white shirt and blue lowers. Our coach showed him the exit and asked him to come back in whites. Without any complaints,Kapil returned and joined the nets in whites. Azad Sahab told him that success doesnt mean he could break the rules and regulations of his academy, Yograj Singh said. Azad was of the old school,and according to another Yograj story,was not the kind to spare the rod when he thought his wards were taking too many liberties on the field. We were playing a match and Azad Sahab took time out from his busy routine to watch us. We lost that match and he realised we werent taking things too seriously. He thrashed us till our calves turned blue. People might think it is too harsh,but it inculcated professionalism in us and eventually helped me play for the country, Yograj said. Former left-arm spinner Arun Sharma,another ward of Azad,who was also present at his residence on Friday says it was his committment that stood out. The infrastructure in those days in Chandigarh wasnt too good and the sports department was always short of cricket balls. But Azad Sahab used to spend half the day there just to make sure that he nets would start and carry on on time. There were days when the sports department refused to provide him equipment but he would still arrange for the nets. That day we played with leather hockey balls,which he got from the hockey department. He ensured that there was not a single day when we our practice would be affected, Sharma says. Another former Haryana player Rakesh Jolly,who was also my first captain,says Azad possessed a great eye for talent. I was a hockey player but I wanted to play cricket. I did not know how to go about doing it but Kapil,who was a very good friend,took me to Azad Sahab. That was the first time he saw me and decided that I should make use of my height and become a fast bowler. Within a year I was playing for Haryana, Jolly says.
