Salim Durani, legendary Indian cricketer, dies at 88; tributes pour in
New Delhi, April 02: Legendary Indian cricketer Salim Durani passed away at the age of 88, on Sunday. Tributes have been pouring in for the all-rounder from all corners of the cricketing fraternity.
The Kabul-born Salim Durani, he who packed a punch with his bat and was also a handy left-arm orthodox bowler, played 29 Tests 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.
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He was also a part of the Indian team that won the World Cup in 1983 and was one of the few players to have played Test cricket before and after the World Cup.
Durani will be remembered for his aggressive style of batting and bowling, as well as his ability to handle pressure situations. His most famous performance came against Australia in the 1967-68 season, when he scored a memorable century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) paid tribute to the late cricketer, saying “Salim Durani, a true gentleman of the game, has left us. The BCCI salutes the remarkable career of Durani and expresses its heartfelt condolences to his family.”
Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly also paid his respects, saying “Salim Durani was a legendary cricketer who will be remembered for generations to come.” Durani was also the recipient of several awards, including the Padma Shri in 1971 and the Arjuna Award in 1972. Durani leaves behind his wife, two sons and a daughter.
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- With inputs from agencies
