Cricket Icon Salim Durani Dies At 88, India Pays Tribute To The Legend

Salim Durani dies at 88

His Contribution to the Country: Salim Aziz Durani represented India in 29 Test matches from 1960 to 1973, An all-rounder, a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, and a left-handed batsman famous for his six-hitting prowess. He is India’s only Test cricketer who was born in Afghanistan.

Durani was the hero of India’s 1961-62 series victory over England. In their victories in Kolkata and Chennai, he took 8 and 10 wickets, respectively. A decade later, he would be pivotal in India’s first-ever win[3] over the West Indies at Port of Spain, taking the wickets of Clive Lloyd and Gary Sobers. [4]

He only scored one century in 50 Test innings, 104 against the West Indies in 1962. In first-class cricket, he represented Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Saurashtra. He scored 14 hundreds in first-class cricket, totaling 8545 runs at 33.37.

Durani had a special rapport with the spectators, who became agitated when he was dropped from the Kanpur Test team in 1973, holding placards and shouting slogans like “No Durani, no test!”

He was present at historic India vs. Afghanistan test match on June 14, 2018, as the only Afghan-born Indian test cricketer.

In 1973, he co-starred in the film Charitra with Parveen Babi.

He was the first cricketer to be awarded the Arjuna Award. In 2011, the BCCI presented him with the C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.

PM Modi condoles Salim Durani’s demise says he made a key contribution to India’s rise in the world of cricket

Durani, a stylish India cricketer of the 1960s with movie-star looks and a penchant for hitting monstrous sixes on demand, died on Sunday. He was 88.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Modi said, “Salim Durani Ji was a cricketing legend, an institution in himself. He made a key contribution to India’s rise in the world of cricket. On and off the field, he was known for his style. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and friends. May his soul rest in peace.”

Noting that Salim Durani had a very old and strong association with Gujarat, the prime minister said he played for Saurashtra and Gujarat for a few years and also made the state his home.

“I have had the opportunity to interact with him and was deeply impressed by his multifaceted persona. He will surely be missed,” Modi said.
Durani lived with his younger brother Jahangir Durani in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

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The Kabul-born Durani, who packed a punch with his bat and was also a handy left-arm orthodox bowler, played 29 Tests and was instrumental in India defeating England 2-0 in the historic five-match Test series in 1961-62, picking up eight and ten wickets in the team’s victories in Calcutta and Madras respectively.