The congenial cricketer

Died: Keki Dinshaw Kotwal, 76, veteran cricket enthusiast, on May 12, 2014 at the Jaslok Hospital in Bombay after succumbing to cancer.
Honorary secretary of the CCI (Cricket Club of India) Cricket Committee for over 25 years, 10 days after Kotwal passed away, the Club arranged a memorial meeting at which many prominent cricket personalities including yesteryear Test cricketer Madhavrao Apte and long-standing secretary of the Tata Sports Club and managing committee member of the Mumbai Cricket Association Milind Rege eulogized his hard work, commitment and dedication to the game. It was also announced that an award in his memory would be instituted. Kotwal had played for CCI and Bombay Gymkhana until he was 50 years old. He was even a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club, London.

Known to be helpful, with his subtle sense of humor he could relate to all age groups and had a vast circle of friends. Tributes were paid to him on social media by former CCI players as quoted by Clayton Murzello in the Mid-Day of May 13, 2014. Erstwhile CCI captain Shishir Hattangadi wrote, "We will miss Kotwal as much as the Lord’s cricket ground. Wonderful man.” Salil Ankola described him as a "great guy,” whilst Jatin Paranjape inscribed, "Forever a gentleman.”
As revealed Hemant Kenkre who had captained Sachin Tendulkar at CCI, it was Kotwal who was given the task of convincing the CCI managing committee to permit the then 15-year-old Tendulkar to be included on the team despite the Club rule which stated under 18 cricketers could not use the dressing room. Acknowledged Tendulkar, "He was so friendly with me and ever so supportive. He encouraged me a lot in my early years with CCI. We all will miss him terribly.” "He quietly helped many potential players financially to travel abroad and improve their skills,” mentions his sister-in-law Dolat Kotwal.
Assigned the duty of preparing the CCI wicket for all big games, it was observed that Kotwal would be most nervous at the start of a game. He would watch the action alone from one corner of the clubhouse on the second floor and relax only after he saw a bounce in the ball.
During his lifetime, the late Raj Singh Dungarpur, former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), had called for a celebration of Kotwal’s 25-year innings as cricket secretary during which time he had represented CCI on the Board. Kotwal had additionally managed the Indian team during the 2000 ICC (International Cricket Council) Knockout Tournament in Kenya when India reached the finals but ultimately lost to New Zealand.
Apart from cricket, he was also a regular billiards player at the CCI, won tournaments too, and served on the CCI Billiards Committee whilst managing the family businesses in textiles and salt. Born in Bombay, he had studied at St Xavier’s School, completed his commerce graduation from Sydenham College and then studied for his LLB degree from the Government Law College.
Ordained as a navar in Navsari, the bachelor was known to be a devout Zoroastrian who would regularly visit fire temples and make his annual trips to the Iranshah in Udvada. He would donate generously but chose not to involve himself with community matters. Fond of traveling, the sportsman continued to be active until he was diagnosed with cancer two months before his demise. As confirmed Dolat, "He was unassuming and kept a low profile, endearing himself to all he came across.”
The popular cricketer is survived by his brother Noshir.