Syed Kirmani to donate a percentage of BCCI prize money towards girls’ education in India

Syed Kirmani, who received the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for 2014-15, would donate 25 per cent of the Rs 25 lakh prize money that he received from the Board of Control for Cricket in India for the education of girls. This was revealed by the 66-year-old former wicketkeeper-batsman’s wife, Habiba.

Kirmani, a key member of the 1983 World Cup-winning squad, was conferred the prestigious Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Indian cricket by BCCI president Shashank Manohar at the cricket board’s annual awards ceremony in Mumbai.  Speaking exclusively at the venue, his wife said, “We have decided to donate 25 per cent (Rs 6.25 lakh) of this amount to the needy people of the country. We always believe that every family should have at least one educated person and the donation will be utilized for girls’ education.”

“The BCCI should also consider felicitating cricketers wives because they play a big role,” she added in a lighter vein. Her husband was awarded the Padma Sri in 1982 and was widely considered as one of the best glovemen of his era. He played 88 Tests for India taking 160 catches and effecting 38 stumpings. He also played 49 ODI and registered 27 catches and 9 stumpings.

He scored 2759 Test runs at an average of 27.04 including 2 tons and 12 fifties. Kirmani won the award for the best wicket keeper in the 1983 Cricket World Cup, his highlight of which was the catch of Faoud Bacchus that he took in the final against the West Indies. He served as the chairman of the selection committee for India in the early 2000s.