PTI
Mumbai, Feb 19: Flamboyant opener Virender Sehwag on Wednesday said he wanted to emulate his idol Sachin Tendulkar and win the Best Cricketer of the Year Award of the Cricket Board and was happy to achieve the feat after eight years in international cricket.
"I have always watched Sachin on TV and wanted to emulate him. It's a great honour to win this award, especially a year after my role model Tendulkar won it. It took me eight years to do so. My first award was the Castrol Award. I thank the BCCI for this honour," Sehwag said after receiving the Polly Umrigar Award from Board President Shashank Manohar.
Gundappa Viswanath, the ex-India skipper and one-time middle-order mainstay, received the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award from Manohar at the annual awards function.
The former wrist specialist, who brought unbridled joy to millions of Indian fans with his stylish play, said he considered the twin triumphs in 1971 in the West Indies and England as his best moments.
"I consider the 1971 tour under Ajit Wadekar of the West Indies and England as my best cricketing moments. Again we chased 400-plus and won (at Port of Spain in Trinidad in 1976) and I got a hundred which also is a special moment for me," said the Bangalore-based Vishwanath.
"I was inspired by my elder brothers who used to play for their clubs. I used to watch them. That inspired me to take up the game. I was eight or nine then," Viswanath said.
Manohar complimented Team India's performance, saying the squad has not lost a series in his six-month tenure.
"I hope India will continue to perform in similar manner. I wish them all the best for the New Zealand tour," he said in his address to the gathering which included the New Zealand-bound Indian team members, former cricketers and current and former BCCI officials.
List of the awardees:
CK Nayudu Award: G R Viswanath (Rs 15 lakhs)
Polly Umrigar Award: Virender Sehwag (Rs 5 lakh)
Madhavrao Scindia Award (Batsman): Cheteshwar Pujara
Madhavrao Scindia Award (Bowler): Sudeep Tyagi
MA Chidambaram Trophy (Under-15): Ankit Bawane (Maharashtra)
MA Chidambaram Trophy (Under-17): Mandeep Singh (Punjab)
MA Chidambaram Trophy (Under-19): Bhuvneshwar Kumar (UP)
MA Chidambaram Trophy (Under-22): Rahul Dewan (Delhi)
MA Chidambaram Trophy (Best Woman Cricketer): Mithali Raj
MA Chidambaram Trophy (Best Junior Woman Cricketer): MD Thirushkamini.
Special Awards:
Maharashtra: Best Overall Performance in 2007-08 season.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni: For receiving Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Padma Shri.
Harbhajan Singh: For taking 300 Test wickets and receiving the Padma Shri.