MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 3: The charm and aura of cricket appeared to be as lively as ever as the past and present stars descended on the hallowed turf of the Brabourne Stadium adding glitter to the annual Ceat Awards function that took place here on Friday evening.Even in these days of disillusionment, pure cricket sparkled just as the stars in the sky with living legends Clive Lloyd, Sunil Gavaskar, Erapalli Prasanna, Allan Border and Dilip Vengsarkar enlightening a distinguished gathering with their memorable experiences and association with the game.Matching the masters was present India skipper Saurav Ganguly, who received the award for being the Cricketer of the Year. Speaking straight from his heart, the òf40óPrince of Calcutta hoped to ``keep cricket on track and get the smiles back on Indian faces.''Accepting the award from Sanjeev Goenka, Vice-Chairman, RPG Group, Ganguly said he would have felt good had the Indian team done better. ``Performance at Sharjah was disappointing,'' the young captain stressed but added that this is the ``first time he has seen an Indian team showing so much of promise and enthusiasm.``The team knows that they have a name to make and I don't think that India can live without cricket,'' Ganguly felt.Taking the opportunity he requested cricket lovers to back the team and hoped that honesty, sincerity and dedication would bear positive results.Little Master Sunil Gavaskar, too asked everyone to ``keep the faith in Indian cricket.''He also thanked the Ceat executives for going back in years and honouring cricketers of the past who he said could have easily claimed the awards had it been in existence then.Late Vinoo Mankad, Prasanna and Vengsarkar were honoured as legends of Indian cricket on the occasion.Nirupama Mankad, daughter-in-law of Vinoo Mankad received the award on his behalf. Clive Lloyd, one of three members of the committee on the ratings panel (along with Gavaskar and Ian Chappell) recalled his cricketing days when players had committment for their country, family and the game. He said that this is the most difficult time in cricket and it now needs spiritual upliftment.Allan Border, who received the award for Australia (Ceat International Team of The Year) on behalf of captain Stephen Waugh said that the Kangaroos were indeed the best and that there can be no question about that.He, however, praised the Windies of the 1970's and 80's terming them as awesome and unbeatable.About the Aussies, he felt that the ``last 12 months have been extraordinary'' and that Steve Waugh has developed into an astute leader who now also ``backs his gut feeling'' unlike his early days.``I am very happy for the spiritual leader who is able to guide the youngsters admirably,'' said Border of Waugh.Dilip Vengsarkar recalled his cricketing days and termed his three successive centuries at Lord's as the most memorable moments.Master of ceremony Mike Coward, Australian cricket writer and commentator, made the function another memorable event that was dressed on the greens of Cricket Club of India which reflected a full house with coloured lights adorning the playing square.
