The BCCI expressed its condolences for the passing of former India opener Sudhir Naik on Thursday, noting that his enthusiasm had moulded the careers of numerous cricketers and will continue to do so for future players.
After a short illness, Naik passed away in a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday. He participated in three Test matches and two ODIs in the 1970s.
His daughter had survived him, who was 78 years old.
“The terrible death of Shri Sudhir Naik has left us feeling very sorry. Anybody who aspires to participate in the sport will be inspired by his significant contributions throughout the years, BCCI President Roger Binny said in a statement.
“The BCCI feels the family’s sorrow and offers prayers for the soul of the deceased.”
When he led the side to championship success in the 1970–71 season, Naik was a highly regarded figure in Mumbai’s cricket community and a Ranji Trophy winner.
Jay Shah, the secretary of the BCCI, stated: “I am saddened to hear about Shri Sudhir Naik’s death. I send my sympathies to his family, friends, and everyone of the Mumbai Cricket Association staff since this is a tragic loss.
“Shri Naik had a great enthusiasm for the game and contributed to it in a number of ways, whether it was as a player, a coach, a curator, or an administrator. He helped numerous cricketers launch their careers and had a strong eye for quality.
The first four for India in ODIs against England in 1974 at Headingley, Leeds, were struck by Naik.
Naik, a pillar of Mumbai who served in many capacities, memorably guided a depleted Mumbai to the Ranji Trophy victory in 1971 when players like Sunil Gavaskar, Ajit Wadekar, Dilip Sardesai, and Ashok Mankad were making history in the Caribbean.
He participated in 85 first-class games, amassed 4376 runs at an average of more than 35 runs per game, and struck seven hundreds, with his maximum score coming from 200 not out.
He embarked on a tragic tour of England in 1974 and made his Test debut at Birmingham, where he scored his lone fifty-seven (77) in the losing second innings.
Naik continued to play a significant role in Mumbai after his playing days. Together with a number of other players who later played for Mumbai, he had a significant role in moulding and fostering the careers of Zaheer Khan, Wasim Jaffer, and Nilesh Kulkarni while overseeing the operations of the National Cricket Club.
Naik, the Wankhede Stadium’s longtime lead curator, is also credited for preparing the venue for the 2011 ICC World Cup.
