Kolkata: Former chief curator of Cricket Association of Bengal Prabir Mukherjee passed away on Tuesday night at a city hospital in Kolkata. He was 86 years old. Mukherjee, who had been in charge of the Eden Gardens ground and wicket for close to 25 years was suffering from a liver condition and other age-related problems for a while.
Interestingly, Mr Mukherjee’s body was not taken to the CAB premises according to the last wishes of the veteran curator. According to sources, late Mukherjee was displeased with the way the association treated him on many occasions over the years, culminating in the top officials laying the blame on him for the washed-out third and final Twenty20 International between India and South Africa in October last year.
During that time, Sourav Ganguly was the president-designate of CAB, who had squarely blamed the veteran curator for not covering the entire ground during the afternoon’s showers that left the field soggy.
“I never worked for money. I have told them (CAB officials) that I’m not coming back to the Eden again,” the snubbed Mukherjee had said and since then the CAB grounds including that of the Eden was managed by Sujan Mukherjee.
However, the CAB officials including joint secretary Subir Ganguly and treasurer Biswarup Dey visited his residence on Prankrishna Mukherjee road near Tala Bridge and paid their last tributes.
In his condolence message, CAB joint secretary Avishek Dalmiya, the BCCI chairman of New Area Development Committee who’s away in Guwahati, said, “Prabirda’s contribution to Bengal cricket has been immense. He was not only involved with the Eden but various grounds across the state.” .
He was also in the eye of a storm for going against the demand of MS Dhoni, the then Indian Test captain, for a turning track to be prepared for the Test match against England in December 2012. Mukherjee took exception, spoke at length to sections of the local and national media, and then went on sick leave in protest before returning and preparing a straightforward Eden Gardens pitch, with a bit of grass and decent bounce on the first day. England went on to win the Test by seven wickets on their way to a 2-1 series win.
Mukherjee, who also served as the joint secretary of the association was in charge of the wicket for the 1987 World Cup final at Eden Gradens , and the controversial semi final of 1996 World Cup between India and Sri Lanka. He also served as the manager of Bengal team on numerous occasions.
Mukherjee played cricket and was also a football goalkeeper in the 1940s. Later on he became involved with cricket in 1952 after his playing days ended following a road accident. Karthik Bose, the then chief coach of the CAB, introduced him to pitch-making.