Desh Prem Azad unhappy with the pension scheme

Desh Prem Azad, who has coached several Test cricketers including Kapil Dev, has lashed out at the Indian board for excluding players and umpires who have played and officiated only in one-dayers from its pension scheme which was announced recently. He also feels that the BCCI should have extended this scheme to the three coaches, including himself, who have won the Dronacharya award for their contribution to cricket.

Azad termed the amount of Rs 5000, which has been announced, as "peanuts" for the current bunch of Indian cricketers. However, he said the amount could make a huge difference to several ex-cricketers and coaches who have devoted their entire life to the game.

"Members of the current Indian team are earning loads of money and Rs 5000 would just be peanuts for them." He also added that the board had discriminated against cricketers and umpires who have not played and officiated in Tests but have taken part only in one-day games. "Not all one-day players graduate to Test cricket and not many umpires get a chance to officiate in the longer version of the game. It is quite unfair to ignore them."

His final salvo indicated his personal anguish when he said, "Moreover, even the three Dronacharya award winners for cricket, including myself, should be eligible for pension. If [Ramakant] Achrekar produced Sachin [Tendulkar], then I nurtured the talent of Kapil [Dev]. The BCCI should realise the contribution made by us."