Tag Archives: Salim Durrani-Indian Cricketer

Indian cricket icon Salim Durani dies at 88

Jamnagar, GUJARAT:

The Kabul-born packed a punch with his bat and was also a handy left-arm orthodox bowler and was instrumental in India defeating England 2-0 in the historic five-match Test series in 1961-62

Salim Durani
Twitter/@RaviShastriOfc

Salim Durani, the debonair India cricketer of the 1960s with a movie-star looks, a puckish sense of humour, and a penchant for hitting monstrous sixes on demand, died on Sunday.

He was 88.

His death was confirmed by sources close to the family.

He had been living with his younger brother, Jahangir Durani, in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

Salim Durani
Twitter/ @ThakurArunS

Durani had undergone a proximal femoral nail surgery after he broke his thigh bone in a fall in January this year.

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 10 wickets in the team’s victories at Calcutta and Madras respectively.

Durani, known for his fine dressing style and swagger, scored just one century though he had seven fifties in the 50 innings he played for the country, scoring 1,202 runs.

A decade after the epic triumph against England, he played a key role in helping India to victory against the West Indies in Port of Spain, dismissing both Clive Lloyd and Sir Garfield Sobers.

The star cricketer also dabbled in Bollywood, starring opposite renowned actor Praveen Babi in the movie Charitra in 1973.

Durani made his Test debut against Australia at in the beginning of 1960 at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium, and played his last international match — then only restricted to the traditional, five-day format — against England in February 1973. The venue was again the place where he had started his international career.

The stylish cricketer aggregated 8,545 runs at 33.37 in first-class cricket and hit 14 hundreds.

A joy to watch when in full flow, Durani had the ability to demolish any bowling attack on his day, though it was as a bowler he had first made his mark for the Indian team.

India’s first Arjuna Award winner in cricket, Durani was a tall man and could get the ball to lift and turn on any surface with a bit of help.

A fascinating character, the cricketer shared a special relation with the crowd, who once expressed their ire after he was dropped from the team for a match in Kanpur, and carried banners and placards that read ‘No Durani, no test!’.

In domestic circuit, Durani represented Gujarat, Rajasthan and Saurashtra during a career that spanned two decades and a half. 

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph, Online / Home> Sports> Cricket / by PTI / April 02nd, 2023

Debonair Salim Durani Passes Away At 88; India’s First Arjuna Award Winning Cricketer Who Dabbled In Bollywood

Jamnagar, GUJARAT:

Describing him as an institution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday mourned the death of cricketing legend Salim Durani, who passed away at his house in Jamnagar, Gujarat, at the age of 88.

“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,” the PM tweeted.

“Salim Durani Ji had a very old and strong association with Gujarat. He played for Saurashtra and Gujarat for a few years. He also made Gujarat his home. I have had the opportunity to interact with him and was deeply impressed by his multifaceted persona. He will surely be missed,” he added.

Paying his last respects to the legend, Former cricketer VVS Laxman wrote: “India’s first Arjuna Award winning cricketer and a man who hit sixes on public demand, Salim Durani.” Former India all-rounder and head coach Ravi Shastri described him as one of the most colorful cricketers of India.

The Kabul-born cricketer was renowned for his slow left-arm orthodox and hitting skill as a batter.

Durani would be remembered for his outstanding performance in the series victory against England in 1961-62, when he picked up eight and 10 wickets in Kolkata and Chennai. He also played a key role in India’s victory against the West Indies in Port of Spain where he dismissed both Clive Lloyd and Sir Garfield Sobers. He had 75 wickets in total in his kitty. He scored just one century though he had seven fifties in the 29 tests he played, scoring 1,202 runs.

Known for his swag and fine dressing sense, the star cricketer also tried his luck in Bollywood, starring opposite Praveen Babi in 1973 film, Charitra.

source: http://www.odishabytes.com / Odisha Bytes / Home> Featured / by OB Bureau / April 02nd, 2023

‘Sixer’ Salim Durrani to get Lifetime award

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

SalimDurraniMPOs30sept2016

Salim Durrani, the charismatic all-rounder who served Indian cricket with distinction in the 1960s and 70s, will receive the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Col. C K Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.

The presentation will be made during the annual BCCI awards’ ceremony, in Mumbai on Tuesday, May 31. The award comprises a trophy and cheque for Rs 15 lakh.

Born in 1934 in Kabul, Afghanistan, Durrani was an aggressive left-handed batsman, and an outstanding left-arm spinner. He was one of the chief architects of India’s first Test series triumph over England, in 1961-62. India won the last two Tests of the five-match series, after the first three were drawn.

Durrani had match figures of 8-113 in the fourth Test at Kolkata, and 10-177 in the fifth at Chennai.

A few months later, Durrani was one of the heroes of a dismal tour of the Caribbean, with his belligerent 104 in a Test at Port of Spain.

It was at the same venue that he helped shape a historic Test win — India’s first in the West Indies — on the national team’s next tour, in 1970-71.

Brought on to bowl at a crucial stage of the second Test, Durrani dismissed Garfield Sobers and Clive Lloyd, two of West Indies’ most formidable batsmen, in quick succession. India won the Test by seven wickets, and maintained their 1-0 lead to take the series.

Two seasons later, Durrani’s consistency with the bat, especially in crunch situations, enabled India to achieve another Test series win over England at home. His proficiency with bat and ball took Central Zone to their first-ever Duleep Trophy win, in 1971-72.

One of the most popular cricketers of his time, who was known to hit a ‘six on demand,’ Durrani represented India in a total of twenty-nine Tests, scoring 1,202 runs @ 25. He took 75 wickets, inclusive of three five-wicket hauls.

The previous winners of the C K Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award are:

1994 – Lala Amarnath

1995 – Syed Mushtaq Ali

1996 – Capt. Vijay Hazare

1997 – K N Prabhu

1998 – P. R. Umrigar

1999 – Col. Hemachandra Adhikari

2000 – Subhash Gupte

2001 – Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi

2002 – Bhausaheb Nimbalkar

2003 – Chandrakant Borde

2004 – B S Bedi, B. Chandrasekhar, E A S Prasanna, S Venkataraghvan

2007 – Nariman Contractor

2008 – Gundappa Viswanath

2009 – Mohinder Amarnath

source: http://www.rediff.com / Rediff.com / Home> Cricket / May 27th, 2011