Veteran curator Daljit felicitated
Mohali, Sept. 18: Captain Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri on Wednesday felicitated recently-retired curator Daljit Singh ahead of the second T20 International between India and South Africa here.
Daljit has retired as a happy man after 22 years of service to Indian cricket. They are no longer seen as “maalis” (gardener) and are getting due respect, a change that pleases him the most.
Daljit, a former firstclass cricketer, may not be involved in the BCCI’s pitch committee anymore but it is still difficult to keep him away from the 22- yard strip.
He continues to head the Punjab Cricket Association pitch committee and is overseeing preparations for the second T20 International between India and South Africa here on Wednesday. It is hot and humid even for the players but it doesn’t bother Daljit one bit.
“I still exercise. I got to if I have to stand under the sun,” said Daljit who resigned as BCCI’s chief curator earlier this month.
Former PCA and BCCI president I S Bindra handpicked him to produce the fastest pitch in India at Mohali back in
1993 and in another four years, Daljit became part of BCCI’s first pitch committee in 1997.
“Needless to say Indian cricket has come a long way including the job of a curator. Back in the day groundsmen were merely seen as ‘maalis’ who didn’t even get paid but now we have a system in place which produces certified curators (since
2012).”