From Apartheid Ban To Super Kings: 69-Year-Old Chennai Native's Heartwarming Cricket Journey

Mahalingam Venkatesan, affectionately known as 'Mali,' has defied numerous challenges, including a cricket ban and a setback in his career, to remain closely connected to the sport he loves. At 69, the Tamil Nadu native now works as a public officer for the Joburg Super Kings in the SA20 tournament, having written his own remarkable story in the world of cricket. Mali, now based in Durban, left India to be with the woman he loved and eventually married, all while staying committed to cricket. He has a rich cricketing history, having played alongside former Indian greats such as Kris Srikkanth, Gundappa Viswanath, Syed Kirmani, Roger Binny, and Bharath Reddy in Tamil Nadu.

A botched surgery ended his dream of representing Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy, but Mali went on to work for a national bank, relocate to South Africa, open three restaurants, and is now works in the SA20.

“I am from Chennai and I played school cricket, varsity, TNCA, CK Nayudu Trophy, U-22 (and) Junior State (competitions). I was even in the Ranji Trophy probables, but I couldn't play because I had a bad incident — due to a wrong operation on my right knee,” Mali told PTI.

Mali assisted Chennai Super Kings during the second edition of the IPL in South Africa, and when the country launched its own T20 league two years ago, he was once again called up by the franchise for the SA20.

“In 2009, when they had the IPL in South Africa, Mr N Srinivasan gave me the opportunity to assist them. (Now) after the start of SA20, they appointed me as a public officer for Joburg Super Kings,” Mali said.

Rooted in Tamil Nadu, Mali's love story brought him to South Africa, where he started playing again, though his journey was short-lived.

“I worked with State Bank of