Goa, Aug. 14 -- More than five decades after his name was announced among the recipients of the Padma Shri, former India wicketkeeper-batter Farokh Engineer says he is still waiting to receive the prestigious civilian honour.

Engineer, now 88 and settled in England, was informed in 1973 that he had been selected for the Padma Shri. At the time, he was still an active India cricketer and was playing county cricket in England. However, despite being listed among the awardees, Engineer says he never received an official communication from the Government of India or any tangible evidence of the honour.

"I was playing in England at the time when the award was announced. Our team manager Hemu Adhikari informed me that I was getting the Padma ...