Krishnaswamy V ICA Treasurer

Former TN Cricketer and Banking Professional could play a significant role in the financial fortunes of retired cricketers in India if he bags the Treasurer's Post in the ICA elections that starts today

In a first of its kind, Indian Cricketers Association has been set up recently to promote the welfare of former cricketers in India

UPDATED ON MONDAY MORNING (OCT 15): Krishnaswamy wins Election, becomes ICA Treasurer

Tamil Nadu opener from the 1970s and a mentor to many cricketers in the State during the 1980s and 90s, V Krishnaswamy (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/08/krishnaswamy-v.html) is looking to take up a new and a challenging engagement, something that he is likely to be most suited for. Krishnaswamy is contesting for the post of Treasurer of the Indian Cricketers Association (ICA), the first of its kind recognized players’ association for former cricketers – both men and women – in India.

Top Banking Professional
After his cricketing stint with the State, Krishnaswamy shifted focus to a career in the Banking industry. During his over three decades with Indian Overseas Bank, he rose to the post of GM.  He also worked overseas for a few years while at IOB. Subsequent to his retirement from IOB earlier this decade, Krishnaswamy led Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) for three years as the Bank’s Managing Director.

Krishnaswamy's wife Radha (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/08/radha-krishnaswamy.html)  was the fitness coach of the Indian Women's World cup team that reached the final at Lords.

Both during this cricketing days (initially as a player and subsequently as a mentor) as well as during his several decades long stint as a Banking Professional, Krishnaswamy has earned the reputation of being  straightforward and a strict disciplinarian, who minces no words when it comes to pointing out the wrongs in the system and in the players/ banking personnel. At the same time, when he spotted potential in youngsters and a desire in them to taking the ‘work hard route’ to success, he mentored them in their career path. Many of them still look up to him for guidance both in the banking industry as well as in the cricketing fraternity.

Given this strong credibility with the players and his rich experience in the financial sector, Krishnaswamy can make a great contribution to the ICA, a new venture that has just been set up in July this year following the Lodha Committee recommendations to clean up the cricketing system in the country. 

Promoting welfare of former players
The ICA sees as its objectives conserving, promoting and advancing the welfare and interests of its members consisting of former cricketers. The role involves negotiating with the BCCI for securing the best commercial and other terms for cricketers including welfare measures and similar benefits for both current and former cricketers.

Election through the eVoting route
The eVoting starts this morning (Oct 11) and the results will be announced early next week. Over 1000 former cricketers from the cricket playing states in the country have registered for the membership of the ICA including many of Krishnaswamy’s team mates from Tamil Nadu such as Ranji Trophy winning captain S Vasudevan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/10/s-vasudevan-tn-ranji-winning-captain.html), V Sivaramakrishnan (his opening partner from the 1970s), B Kalyanasundaram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2011/08/kalli-b-kalyanasundaram.html), Abdul Jabbar, AG Satwendar Singh and NP Madhavan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/05/np-madhavan.html) as well as former India cricketers including TA Sekar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2013/08/ta-sekar-architect-behind-worlds-best.html), Robin Singh, Bharat Reddy, WV Raman and M Venkatramana (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/venkatramana-m_97.html).

Krishnaswamy was also the one who hand picked Anantha Padmanabhan (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/09/ananthapadmanabhan-kn.html) and Rajesh Kannan at IOB in the 1990s, following which the bank had one of its most successful runs in the TNCA first division league. Anantha Padmanabhan is now a top 5 umpire with the BCCI and Rajesh Kannan (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/08/bcci-umpire-quits-iob-after-25years.html), a top 80 Umpire.

Krishnaswamy will be a great asset to the ICA ‘Treasury’ given his experience both as a respected player and a top notch banking professional. This section will wait and watch the developments in the coming days.