Think of Hyderabad cricket and the word that spring to mind is 'elegance.'

Think of Hyderabad cricket and the word that spring to mind is 'elegance.'

Think of PR Man Singh and the image that crops up is that of the manager of the 1983 Prudential World Cup team. Of course Hyderabad cricket is about much more than mere elegance and Man Singh's fame extends beyond the epochal World Cup triumph.

Man Singh was for many years intimately associated with cricket in Hyderabad as the Secretary of the Hyderabad Cricket Association from 1976 to 1992. He was also founder-captain of the Hyderabad Blues club team which toured the cricket world in the 1970s and 80s.

Now Man Singh has written a lavishly illustrated history of cricket in Hyderabad appropriately entitled Cricket Biryani-The History of Hyderabad Cricket.

Though the BCCI has never bothered with official histories, teams from the South (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala) have seen privately produced books in recent years. It is fitting that Hyderabad joins this list as it has an illustrious history.

The book which is profusely illustrated on glossy paper covers every aspect of cricket in Hyderabad from the early days to the modern era and has sections on HCA office bearers, profiles of Hyderabad players who played for India and a comprehensive statistical section including full score-cards of every Ranji Trophy match played by Hyderabad.

The forewords are written by two of Hyderabad's most illustrious players, Mansur Ali Khan (The Nawab of Pataudi) and Abbas Ali Baig.

Three players from Hyderabad have captained the country-Ghulam Ahmed, Pataudi (though he was not originally from the city) and Mohammad Azharuddin.

Former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal also briefly represented Hyderabad before migrating to Pakistan in the early 60s.

Of particular interest to fans of Hyderabad cricket is the section at the end where Man Singh picks his best Hyderabad XI of all time.

The team is: Abbas Ali Baig, VVS Laxman, ML Jaisimha (captain), MAK Pataudi, Mohammad Azharuddin, EB Aibara, Syed Abid Ali, P. Krishnamurthy (wicket-keeper), Mumtaz Hussain, NP Singh, Ghulam Ahmed, 12th man: Gul Mohammad.

The book is available from the Marine Sports, Mumbai. marinesports@hotmail.com