Friday, Apr 20, 2012

Gulf News

Dubai C.T.K Mashood, who won the Shyam Bhatia award for best bowler for the third time, has achieved the rare and prestigious honour of receiving his accolades from three World Cup-winning captains.

Speaking to Gulf News after receiving his third award and second in successive years thanks to his 20 wickets in Division Two matches, Mashood said: “The first time I won the best bowler award, I received it from Imran Khan. Last year Kapil Dev presented it and this year it was Ranatunga.

“I will treasure such moments and trophies forever,” Mashood, who captains Nucaf Tellicherry, said. He was also hailed as the inspiration behind teammate Prajakat Chauhan getting the best all-rounder award.

Chauhan, who hit 324 runs and bagged 11 wickets, paid tribute to his captain for supporting his success. Chauhan, who hails from Madhya Pradesh, said: “I have been playing domestic cricket for the last 10 years, but this year I was able to perform brilliantly due to the support from my captain Mashood. He gave me confidence.”

It has been a truly great year for Mashood, who also captained the Kannur Veerans to victory in the final of the Kerala Premier League. “I am happy to have captained Tellicherry team to victory in three tournaments this season. We are also in the semi-final of two more tournaments,” added Mashood, who played against India’s Rahul Dravid in his first Indian cricket board match while representing Kerala against Karnataka in an under-13 tournament.

Mashood, who went on to play in the Ranji Trophy for Kerala, comes from a cricketing family. His elder brother C.T.K. Nasir is the founder of the Tellicherry team and organiser of the Kerala Premier League, and his other brother Usman Kutty also played in the Ranji Trophy.

Mashood, who also grabbed a hat-trick in the Mobil Cup, added: “The award is the result of my love for the game. There isn’t a single weekend that I do not play a tournament, be it in Sharjah, Dubai, or even Abu Dhabi.

“I am also happy I have a bunch of players like Chauhan in the Tellicherry team who are keen to play all the time.”

By K.R. Nayar?Chief Cricket Writer

Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.