The Hindu : Sport : Suresh Saraiya is 40 not out with AIR

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Suresh Saraiya is 40 not out with AIR

Special Correspondent

Mumbai: Suresh Saraiya, 73, was ‘back again’ at the Police Gymkhana on Friday evening, but for someone used to giving running commentary on cricket for over six hours in a single day he preferred to keep his speech short and sweet in the presence of former India Test cricketer R.G. Nadkarni, BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Prof. Ratnakar Shetty and his daughter Nita.

Over a dozen AIR commentators, with whom he has shared the mike and trained, were also present.

Long innings

The occasion was a felicitation function organised by his friends and well-wishers, notably Rajesh Kochrekar and his team, to mark Saraiya’s long innings with All India Radio as a cricket commentator for 40 years.

A college-level cricketer, Saraiya made his debut as a commentator against Australia on November 4 in the 1969-70 series and his colleagues then in the commentary box were Devraj Puri, Sardindu Sanyal, Indernarayan Premnarayan and Madhav Mantri. His 97th Test was against England last year at Mohali.

All India Radio, ABC, Australia and Radio New Zealand and other broadcasters have used his services for close to 150 One-Day Internationals and four World Cup finals.

He has given live commentary from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Sharjah, England, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies and Toronto.

Paying handsome tributes for Saraiya’s contribution to cricket, Nadkarni said: “He’s well prepared for any match. He did thorough home work. In cricket half century is important and I wish he scores a 50 in the commentary box.”

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