Railways off-spinner Parida calls it a day

NEW DELHI - Railways off-spinner Kulamani Shankar Parida, 33, Saturday announced his retirement from first-class cricket.

Parida left the Karnail Singh Stadium a disappointed man as his bowling action has come in for question at the fag end of his career.

His teammates, however, are all praise for his contribution to the team. In an emotional farewell, they presented him a memento with a touching inscription: “We all are proud of you; with fond memories!”

Parida with his pleasant disposition soldiered on for 13 years winning matches and respect of his teammates and opponents.

His long-time teammate Murali Kartik spoke for everyone when he said: You can’t come across a more honest human being and perfect team man. More importantly, he was a bowler who could bowl a team to victory on his own.”

Any bowler who has 320 first-class wickets from 108 matches expects to play for his country, but Parida was distinctly unlucky not to have got the Test cap. He was always spoken as a potential but remained a fringe player.

I have no regrets, said the soft-spoken Parida, who had made up his mind to retire on Friday when he was ‘called’ in the last over of the day.

How could I have changed my action at this age and stage of my career,” a perplexed Parida asked ruefully.

Kartik’s logic is simple. “If Parida’s action was illegal, he would have been bowling ‘doosra’ and he never bowled that.”

“I tried to make some adjustment in my action, that apparently was not enough. It was tough. All the same, it was great playing for Railways, they are such a wonderful bunch. I will miss them and the dressing room atmosphere, said an emotional Parida.