The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has nominated former India wicket keeper Syed Kirmani to receive the Colonel CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2015. The Awards Committee met at Cricket Centre, BCCI headquarters – Mumbai and unanimously nominated Kirmani for Award for 2015. The committee consists of BCCI president Shashank Manohar, secretary Anurag Thakur and N Ram, editor – The Hindu.

The BCCI celebrates the birth centenary of Col. Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu, the country’s first Test captain, by instituting an annual Lifetime Achievement Award, to honour individuals for their unparalleled contribution to Indian cricket, on and off the field. The Award comprises a trophy, citation and cheque for Rs. 25 lakhs.

About Kirmani

• Kirmani, who made his Test debut in 1976 against New Zealand, kept wickets against India’s famous spin quartet and did the job remarkably well.
• Having started his career as an understudy to Farokh Engineer, Kirmani took over the responsibility and added his charm to the role in a decade-long career.
• It was thanks to his tenacious approach that he scored two Test centuries in the lower order.
• Named the best keeper in the 1983 World Cup, it was Kirmani, who shared an unbeaten 126 runs partnership with Kapil Dev against Zimbabwe as the Indian captain went on to register one of India’s greatest wins at Tunbridge Wells.

The Indian government awarded him the Padma Shri in 1982. He was the vice-president of KSCA and also the chairman of the national selection committee.