Make Dossa library available to public: Madhav Apte

Former Cricket Club of India (CCI) president Madhav Apte has urged the present committee to make the Anandji Dossa reference library at the club available "to any cricket lover," something that is not possible in a private club.


Madhav Apte (right) with CCI vice president Kapil Malhotra at the condolence meet. Pic/Atul Kamble

Apte, the former India batsman, came up with the suggestion at a condolence meeting organised by the CCI yesterday to mourn the death of statistician par excellence Dossa, who passed away at the age of 98 in NY last week.

Dossa had donated a major portion of his books and newspaper clippings to the library when the CCI was headed by late Raj Singh Dungarpur.

Apte said: "When I spoke to Anandjibhai, he said he had no objection if it (library) is moved to an appropriate place. I do believe it would be a fitting tribute to Anandjibhai if the CCI would be able to do this."

Ex-Mumbai captain Milind Rege, who highlighted the importance of the paper clippings which Dossa had stored every year, said: "Let's give it to BCCI.

It would be treasured." Rege recalled coming to the CCI one day only to discover some members of the CCI staff having their lunch inside the library. He felt that was being disrespectful to Dossa.

However, a CCI administrator was heard saying after the condolence meeting that no one is allowed to have lunch at the library anymore.