Mumbai, Dec 24: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today nominated former India wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani to receive the Colonel CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2015.

"The Col. C.K. Nayudu Awards Committee met today at Cricket Centre, BCCI headquarters - Mumbai and has unanimously nominated Mr. Syed Kirmani for the Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for 2015," BCCI said in a media advisory on Thursday (December 24).

"The committee consists of BCCI President Mr. Shashank Manohar, Hon. Secretary Mr. Anurag Thakur and Mr. N Ram (Chairman of Kasturi & Sons Limited and Publisher of 'The Hindu')," it added.

The 65-year-old Kirmani played 88 Tests and 49 ODIs for India between 1976 and 1986. He made his Test debut against New Zealand in Auckland. He was part of India's World Cup winning team in 1983.

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.

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Previous winners of the award

1994 - Lala Amarnath

1995 - Syed Mushtaq Ali

1996 - Capt. Vijay Hazare

1997 - K.N. Prabhu

1998 - P. R. Umrigar

1999 - Col. Hemachandra Adhikari

2000 - Subhash Gupte

2001 - Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi

2002 - Bhausaheb Nimbalkar

2003 - Chandrakant Borde

2004 - Bishan Singh Bedi, BS Chandrasekhar, EAS Prasanna, S Venkataraghvan

2007 - Nariman Contractor

2008 - Gundappa Viswanath

2009 - Mohinder Amarnath

2010 - Salim Durani

2011 - Ajit Wadekar

2012 - Sunil Gavaskar

2013 - Kapil Dev Nikhanj

2014 - Dilip Vengsarkar

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Syed Mujtaba Hussein Kirmani's profile - By BCCI

Born: 29 December 1949 Madras (now Chennai)

Test debut: 24 January 1976 Vs New Zealand

ODI debut: 21 February 1976 Vs New Zealand

"Keeping wickets on sub-continent tracks where the ball spins, bounces and even keeps low at times is one of the most difficult tasks in world cricket. Syed Kirmani 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. Against England in 1981-82, he did not concede a single bye in three consecutive Tests. 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.

Kirmani also provided solid support to Sunil Gavaskar in the unbroken 143-run stand for the ninth wicket as Gavaskar made 236 not out, the then top score by an Indian against West Indies in the sixth Test at home. As the spinners made way for a seam attack led by Dev, Kirmani made the necessary transition and quickly adapted to the needs of the new look bowling attack. The Indian government awarded him the Padma Shri in 1982.

He was the vice-president of KSCA and the chairman of the national selection committee."

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