Some of the biggest names in Indian cricket paid tribute to Solly Adam, the man who brought the great Sachin Tendulkar to Yorkshire, as his biography Beyond Boundaries was launched at Headingley.

Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar and VVS Laxman all sent video messages to the highly respected former Bradford League cricketer and the trio will be in attendance when the book is unveiled at November’s Mumbai Test.

The Pakistan great Mushtaq Mohammad, Indian fast bowler Abey Kuruvilla, now the General Manager of the Board of Control for Cricket in India who played Bradford League cricket for Cleckheaton, and former top umpire John Holder, all spoke at the Headingley event which was introduced by Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves.

Graves said: “Yorkshire County Cricket Club was delighted to officially launch Solly’s biography at Headingley Cricket Ground and we thank all our guests for making this a brilliant evening. 

“Solly has done so much for others, and this is recognition he richly deserves.”

Beyond Boundaries, which has been written by Vara Vantapati, charts Solly’s emotional rags to riches story.

“He arrived Yorkshire from his native India in 1964 with £1 in his pocket and has gone on to become a successful businessman and a renowned league cricketer.

“Having the launch at Headingley is so special for me,” said Adam.

“I love Yorkshire and would have loved to play for them but the rules at the time wouldn’t have allowed it even if I had been good enough.

“You had to be born in Yorkshire to play for the county back then.”

It was ironic that when Yorkshire did change their rules that Adam helped them recruit the brilliant Tendulkar.

“When I heard they had signed Australian fast bowler Craig McDermott I thought that is good because times are changing,” said Adam.

“But days later I was watching television and saw that McDermott was no longer coming.

“I rang Yorkshire and said I would like to meet with them because it was a great time to bring in an Asian cricketer. 

“I met with the Chief Executive Chris Hassall, Brian Close and the Cricket Committee.

“Freddie Trueman was sceptical and didn’t approve with changing the Yorkshire-born rule.

“I pointed out that times were changing and that overseas players were making a big difference in county and club cricket.

 “Sachin Tendulkar was only 19 but it was clear he was going to be one of the greatest.

“Yorkshire were interested so I phoned him in Australia where he was playing.

“I told him that this was a great opportunity to not only play county cricket but open doors and create opportunities for other Asian cricketers.

“Initially he said no because he was concerned about his schedule, so I rang my old friend Sunil Gavaskar and sought his help. 

“Sunil spoke to him and the next day Sachin rang me to say he wanted to talk with Yorkshire.”

Tendulkar is not the only star name to have been recruited by Adam.

He has mentored several players over the years, many of whom went on to become international stars, such as VVS Laxman (Hanging Heaton and Pudsey Congs), Vinod Kambli (Spen Victoria) and Wasim Jaffer (Spen Victoria).

All three impressed greatly during their time in the Bradford League.

He was also responsible for the late Abdul Qadir’s brief stint at Hanging Heaton, delivering progress reports back to Imran Khan, who had designs on the leg-spinner for the Pakistan Test side and went on to play 67 Test and 104 ODIs.

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan was arguably his country's greatest-ever captain, and he relied on Solly Adam to monitor the progress of Abdul Qadir, who went on to become one of the best spinners of all-time for Pakistan.Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan was arguably his country's greatest-ever captain, and he relied on Solly Adam to monitor the progress of Abdul Qadir, who went on to become one of the best spinners of all-time for Pakistan. (Image: Lucy Ray.)

Adam himself was a left-arm spinner who played Minor Counties for Cumberland, and captained Batley and Spen Victoria with great success.

He also played with Cleckheaton, Altofts and Slazengers after initially showing his prowess with Batley Muslims, Crossbank Muslims and Thornhill.

At Batley he guided them into the top flight of the Central Yorkshire League and went on to win the league championship, Jack Hampshire Cup and Heavy Woollen Cup, the latter a competition he has sponsored for many years.

Among the players to play under him at Batley was future Yorkshire and England fast bowler Paul Jarvis.

At Spen Victoria, Adam built a side full of talented young cricketers, such as pace bowler John Wood, went on to enjoy a county career with Durham and Lancashire.

Left arm seamer Mike Smith left to join Gloucestershire and won one cap for England, and prolific batsman Tim Walton was on the books of Northamptonshire.

Andy Bethel, Steve Foster and Gary Brook have all since gone on to have outstanding careers in league cricket, justifying the faith Adam had in them.

“That was a really talented side,” said Adam.

“I used to watch lots of cricket and enjoyed helping young cricketers to realise their potential.

“I used to tell them repeatedly to never throw their wicket away. I also advised them to aim high but to always keep their feet on the floor.

“I had some great days at Spen. You know, Spen has never ever left my heart.”

As well as focusing on Adam’s cricket achievements, author Vantapati has brought the raw emotion of the protagonist’s back story into the public domain.

He revealed: “When I first started out with my early interviews with Solly I was intrigued by the contrasts in his life.

“As we progressed, I became totally absorbed by an incredibly emotional story. This has been a great experience for me.”

The book, ‘Solly Adam – Beyond Boundaries’ by Vara Vantapati, can be purchased from Amazon UK or visit www.sollyadam.com for more details.