Says playing in UAE was a totally different experience as they moved from matting and turf wickets to cement wickets in UAE
GLOBAL GOENKARS IN SPORT 1
DOHA
Sandeep Dhuri, a stylish and compact middle order batsman, a mainstay of the Goan Ranji Trophy campaign of his era. An era where Indian Premier League (IPL) and Twenty20 had not made its appearance on the cricket horizon.
Knowing that a cricketer has a shelf life and that he has to make use of it when the going was good, Sandeep Dhuri, who hails from a cricket crazy family of Vasco packed his bags and headed to UAE to give his cricket career a new direction.
He was not the first one from Goa to do that, with another Vasco and Goa’s leading cricketer of his time Namdev Phadke, a few years his senior, having set the ball rolling by moving to UAE to play cricket in the desert land. Sandeep followed suit.
“Yes, those days lots of cricketers moved to the Gulf to work and play cricket as there were few opportunities in India. Now, the pay scale is very good for first class cricketers and IPL has created a great impact in a cricketer’s life,” Sandeep said, while looking back to the era when he was at the peak of his career.
FAMILY TIES WITH CRICKET
Sandeep’s cricket journey began in a close knit cricketing family where he ate, dreamt and slept cricket from an early age, with a host of family members deeply immersed in the game in the port town.
“Cricket was always in our family. I used to play multiple sports but had more of a liking to cricket. My parents encouraged us in sports, but the best part was they never got involved in our game and that’s how we got freedom to play this game to our liking,” recalled Sandeep.
“My elder cousin Radha started playing for Salgaocar’s. We used to go with him for practice and got spotted. My two brothers, Sanjay and Sandesh, also played for Goa in the Ranji trophy,” said Sandeep, regarding his family members and their links with Goan cricket.
CRICKET IN GOA
Sandeep represented Goa in 13 matches and scored 737 runs at an average of 38.78 with two hundreds and two 50s during the period from 1987 to 1990.
The dabber batsman also played a few memorable knocks in the now defunct Arlem Invitational tournament, in which some of the key national team players took part. One of them was former India opener Anshuman Gaekwad, who expired on July 31.
“Yes, playing with Anshuman Gaekwad was a learning experience, I learnt a lot from him and am grateful for the opportunity I got along with some of my fellow Goans,” recalled Sandeep.
“Thanks to Vijay Chowgule and the house of Chowgule who brought the top Indian talent to Goa for such tournaments. The matches of the tournament gave us exposure and made us more accomplished cricketers and most of my teammates from Goa will agree to that. I played quite a few memorable knocks in the tournament.”
“It was not only playing alongside but playing against some of the top players also helps a lot. Especially when it comes to decision making. Playing along with Anshuman Gaekwad really helped me in believing in yourself and not losing hopes till the last moment,” he adds.
CRICKET IN UAE
Playing on turf wickets in India and the shift to cement wickets in UAE was a completely different ball game for him for which he got ready in quick time.
“Playing in UAE was a totally different experience as we moved from matting and turf wickets to cement wickets in UAE. Very competitive and attacking cricket was played in the UAE. Initially it took some time to get adjusted to wickets and game and had to modify my game accordingly,” said Sandeep who turned 56 on July 30.
Recalling his shift to UAE when he was just 23 and at the peak of his career he said: “During our era, the opportunities were very few and cricketers have a shelf life. As cricketer, you had to secure your future when you are at peak, and that’s what some of our Goan cricketers did and moved to Gulf for employment where we got opportunity to play good cricket.”
“Those days playing cricket did not get you financial security, job opportunities were less. I got an offer from New Medical Centre where they wanted to start a new cricket team. Indeed, it helped me in getting a good job and also an opportunity to play good cricket in UAE,” he added. [To be continued]
