Curator Nadim Memon gets pitch perfect

Well-known curator Nadim Memon's commemorative book Memon's Midas Moments, was launched by former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar at the Cricket Club of India, in Mumbai, on Tuesday.

The book encompasses Memon's path-breaking work on maidans in Mumbai and the various cricket pitches he has laid for international cricket matches. His work on the remarkable turnaround of the Cross, Azad and Oval Maidans are the high points.

Vengsarkar, who is honorary vice-president of the Mumbai Cricket Association, was all praise for the author.

"He is a hardworking and dedicated curator, whom I have known for a long time. He was the curator at my academy in Mumbai and later went on to prepare wickets for the national as well as international matches," he said.

Speaking about his idea of encapsulating his 15-year career in a book, Memon said: "My decision to bring out a book of this nature, outlining my achievements as a pitch curator and as a zealous cricketing enthusiast, is not an attempt at self-promotion as many would assume.

- Ishant-Zaheer pair will be formidable in England

"It has been my desire to create awareness about people who work behind the scenes to ensure a good game. And what better way, I thought, than a book. Throughout the 15 years of my career, I have realised that there is no value attached to the actual masters of the wicket and they are paid peanuts in spite of this being a highly skilled job.

"I personally know head gardeners, or maalis, who draw a salary of hardly eight or ten thousand rupees even after three decades of service to cricket."

The book has been conceptualised, designed and executed by veteran sports journalist Martin D'Souza, who now runs his own company, Light Infotainment.

Memon is known for turning barren land into lush, green tops. His work at the Oval maidan, in Mumbai, which was converted into the Elf Vengsarkar Cricket Academy, fencing of the Azad and Cross maidans and revamping of the D Y Patil stadium are just a few of his notable forays into the cricketing world.

Ajit Wadekar, another former India skipper, said, "I hope the MCA always makes full use of this man's experience, knowledge and willingness to work for the betterment of cricket."

Veteran sports journalist S K Sham said, "Soft-spoken and well-mannered?Madim?has endeared himself to top officials of the Mumbai Cricket Association and the Western India Football Association, so much so that they look upon him as one of their own."