In WTC Final Oval, India won its first Test in England here, cricketers used to get only Rs 50 then

London. Former India wicket-keeper batsman Farooq Engineer is happy to see the world envy the success of the Indian Premier League but also wants everyone to come together and take concrete steps to get Test cricket out of danger. Financially strong India, England and Australia are committed to Test cricket, but players from smaller countries are preferring to play in franchise leagues around the world, as they earn handsomely from there. It is known that Team India won its first Test in England at the Oval only in 1971 and then the cricketers used to get 50 rupees a day. Today the final of the World Test Championship between India and Australia is to be played on this ground.

Farokh Engineer told news agency PTI, Test cricket being in danger is not a good thing. It is good that this game is spreading worldwide through T20, but Test cricket should not be sacrificed for this. He said that therefore the World Test Championship shows the world that Test cricket can be as interesting as limited overs cricket.

this game is like chess
Farooq Engineer, 85, who arrived in London from Manchester to watch the final of the World Test Championship between India and Australia, said it is like a game of chess, depending on the circumstances. There is a real test of the batsmen in this. There should be enough space for both Test and limited overs cricket. The WTC final is being played at the Oval where India won its first Test match in England in 1971. Engineer played an important role in India’s victory by scoring 59 runs in the first innings of that match.

Happy – now earning in crores
He has played cricket in those days when cricketers used to earn 50 rupees a day. He is happy that the present generation cricketers are earning crores in IPL. Farooq Engineer said that India has progressed in Test cricket and in limited overs cricket we have IPL, which is the envy of the world. The reins of cricket are in the hands of Indian cricket and it makes me very happy.

He said that I watch cricket all the time. It’s in my blood. Cricket is an Indian game, which accidentally originated in Britain. Cricket was very popular earlier also, but with T20 it is spreading in all the countries of the world. Big money is available in IPL. We used to get 50 rupees per day for playing 5 days test match. The engineer also narrated an interesting anecdote on this occasion.

5 batsmen and 2 all-rounders in Rohit Sharma’s playing-XI, these 11 players can get a chance in WTC Final

He said that I remember I was batting with Sunil Gavaskar and we needed 15 to 20 runs in the last half an hour of the fourth day. We were getting messages from the dressing room that don’t finish the match today as it would cost us the allowance for the fifth day. We didn’t play for money. We used to play for respect.

,

Tags: England, Farokh Engineer, team india, WTC Final