Bhubaneswar: Describing club cricket as the best form of cricket, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar today said it teaches players the way to carry weaker member of a team.
"Club cricket is the best form of cricket. It teaches one to be friends with your rivals even as you compete hard with them on the ground," Gavaskar said at a function organised by a local cricket club to felicitate him.
Stating that one`s performance in club cricket gets the attention of the Ranji Trophy selectors, Gavaskar said "from Ranji, you go on to play Duleep Trophy and then international cricket."
In a message to the budding cricketers of the state, the legendary Indian opener said : "You must aim to achieve what your predecessors have failed to achieve. In your case, it would mean you should try your best to win the Ranji Trophy for the Odisha team, something that has not been achieved yet.
"Similarly, if you go on to play international cricket, your aim should be to beat top teams like England and Australia 4-0 or 5-0 on their home turf," he said. He also advised the young cricketers to make sure they wear the right shoes. "If your shoes are not right, it would affect every aspect of your cricket ? batting, bowling and fielding," he said.
Requesting the parents and guardians of players to encourage their children and not stifle, he said "cricket teaches some of the finest values in life." Gavaskar, appointed interim BCCI president for the duration of the IPL this season by the Supreme Court, commended IPL Chairman Ranjib Biswal for the excellent job that he had done. Biswal hails from Odisha.
Odisha DGP Prakash Mishra, chief guest on the occasion, said he wished Gavaskar was appointed full time head of BCCI. Sports and Youth Affairs secretary Saswat Mishra, City police Commissioner R P Sharma and legendary coach Kishor Mania were also present on the occasion.