AIR FORCE CRICKET NOSTALGIA! THE AMATEUR ERA

A Fighter Pilot and one of my senior friends, AVM AK Shyam often reinforces his love for the Air Force saying, “Given any number of choices in my next janam, I would never trade my Air Force life for anything else!” I am sure that even those officers and men who left the Air Force earlier than AVM Shyam, for alternate career options, shall not trade off their Air Force beginnings with any other option. This is where we got a grounding that was truly unmatched.

Early exit from the Air Force has been a routine for almost all airmen cricketers after the 1970s. I don’t recall any, after MWO Ghundi and MWO SK Singh who stayed their full tenure. The early-exit trend among officers started sometime in the 1990s. However, compared to the airmen cricketers, fewer officers followed that path.T

The maxim, “My Air Force, The Best Ever”, strengthens year after year among former cricketers as we meet more regularly than any other group as large as ours. The bonding is incomparable among veteran Air Force cricketers, some of who played at the highest levels as air warriors first and amateur cricketers next. That was truly a gift of the amateur sports era. The equations and relationships were man to man rather than on the price tags of players.

University of Roorkee, a legendary institution from where I graduated, had mandatory participation in a wide range of sports. However, in later life, many illustrious fellow players from Roorkee never got adequate opportunities. Compared to the rest, the Air Force has had an excellent sports environment even as we were professionally engaged in a tough grind, as much or more than anyone else outside. I fondly recall my time as the Air Force Cricket captain. I often changed my uniform on the field for the evening practice, to eventually get back into it for a few more hours of software work at HQ WAC.

Professional journeys for all of us from different branches and trades in IAF have brought home innumerable lessons in camaraderie and leadership. The sports arena has also had its share of examples without most of us being consciously aware. Engaging in a team game like Cricket has been somewhat akin to being with a team of technicians on the squadron tarmac.

My first lesson in leadership came up on the Air Force Cricket ground. That was when I first saw an Air Mshl. Early in AFTC, I was selected to represent Training Command in Inter Command Cricket Championship. The first match was with Air HQ. As I opened the innings, I was spellbound to see Air Vice Marshal IH Latif (later the Air Chief) briskly adjusting his field position at midwicket with all attention to the commands of the skipper in slips, Sqn Ldr VM Muddaiah. That short half hour stay at the crease brought home to me the essence of leadership – The art of empowering the nominated leader despite one's own towering presence.

Fellowship and esprit-de-corps among cricketers continued to develop through my years in the Air Force. A great thought by my predecessor at Maintenance Command of hosting the past and present Air Force cricketers, as a part of Vauysena Challenge Cup, was proudly continued by me and also by my successor. Most of us recall the humour in whites in the inaugural event. A veteran with painful knees, Gp Capt Bill Chauhan was brought to bat on a bicycle carrier. The viewers realised that his arms were still strong when he hit three sixes before the close of innings.

The most amazing part of Cricket nostalgia has been the yearly reunion of Air Force veteran cricketers at Hyderabad. These have been organised since 2002 by former airmen, HP, Kumar and Sunil, with many others contributing. All of them are doing extremely well, thanks to the excellent grooming in the Air Force. A large number of former Corporals to veteran Air Marshals gather here to rekindle old memories. The on-field presence of erstwhile greats including octogenarian Gp Capt Dinoo Deshpande and nearly there Gp Capt GS Shaktawat has been an inspiration to the younger veterans besides holding youngsters from the opposition in awe. The young Air Force Academy team, often led by their not so young Commandant, beats the veterans hollow year after year. We are left to only applaud the young AFA side for their superior game and exemplary conduct towards the veterans. Delightfully, at the end of the game every year, the winner is always the spirit of Air Force!

Besides the on-field forgettable performance, the two musical evenings in company of friends energises veterans and the ladies for the remaining year. Friends from sister services also join us in celebrations. They don’t however say the obvious – “Humare yahan aisa nahin hota!” No wonder! It’s been a unique legacy, handed over to us by greats like Air Chief Mshl IH Latif followed by Muddaiah, Dani, Dharmalingam, Awasthi, Diwan, Thobte, and Porel, to name a few.

I can’t but agree more with you Shyam ji, “None of us shall trade our Air Force life for anything else!” 

Air Mshl Pramod Athawale