Calcutta: Bishan Singh Bedi, a crowd-pulling former captain of India, who is the guiding light of the Bishan Bedi Cricket Coaching Trust (BBCCT), is organising a high-profile function to "commemorate the life and times" of the Trust's Founding chief patron, Mansur Ali Khan 'Tiger' Pataudi.
Bedi, now 71, has always saluted Tiger as India's "finest" captain.
Wednesday's function at a five-star property in New Delhi will actually coincide with the BBCCT completing 25 years.
On Saturday afternoon, Bedi spoke to The Telegraph from his residence in the Capital.
Excerpts...
Q Besides the obvious, what does the BBCCT do?
A We do our things quietly and the emphasis is on working at the grassroots level. It's not only about coaching, but teaching the culture of cricket. You'll be interested to know that Yuvraj Singh was our Founder trainee. Over the years, we've worked with some other India cricketers as well... We look to have two boarding and lodging camps annually and have taken trainees on tours overseas. Usually, the camps are in Himachal Pradesh... The boys have gone to England, Australia, Abu Dhabi... This year, we intend taking them to Australia, to coincide with India's tour there.
Q Is Yuvraj coming for the celebrations?
A We have invited Yuvraj and he will come.
Q Does the BBCCT complete 25 years on March 7 itself?
A Actually, 25 years got completed on February 26, but we had to delay the celebrations on account of Holi having then been days away.
Q Tiger passed away in September 2011, so were you waiting for an occasion to have an evening in his memory?
A Yes... I'd been wanting to do something suitable and 25 years of the BBCCT, of which Tiger was the Founding chairman as well, turned out to be a very good reason.
Q Would Tiger talk cricket with your trainees when you had camps in New Delhi?
A You knew Tiger... He wasn't the type to interact as such, but there were occasions when he'd drop in when camps were on. Basically, Tiger wanted to check if everything was in order.
Q Well, what is planned for Wednesday?
A Former captains Ajit Wadekar and Gundappa Viswanath have confirmed their attendance, while Syed Kirmani, Roger Binny, Bharath Reddy and Arun Lal will also be present. There are others as well, it's just that I cannot remember all the names at this point in time... Erapalli Prasanna had confirmed, but won't be able to make it as his wife is to undergo surgery around that time.
Q What about Tiger's family?
A The entire family is expected to be there.
Q Will you be the main speaker for the evening?
A The keynote address will be by a special invitee... An educationist from the US, known to both Tiger and me, has arrived and he'll be talking on cricket. We hope the evening will be remembered as special, a tribute worthy of Tiger, the man and the captain.
Q Finally... We instituted an annual lecture in 2012 and the Board started one a year later... However, is enough being done to remember an absolute legend?
A My take is that enough may not have been done, not that Tiger was the type to clamour for recognition... Oh no... Just look at it... Tiger is no more than a Padma Shri! I really don't need to say more... We don't need to spell it out that Tiger's contribution to our cricket has been enormous. Enormous.
