Former player and spin all-rounder Salim Durani, one of India’s first generation legendary cricketers, is no more. Salim Durani passed away on Sunday. 88-year-old Durrani was suffering from cancer for a long time. He breathed his last at Jamnagar in Gujarat this morning as his condition worsened. In January this year, he underwent surgery for a fractured femur in a fall. Durani played a key role in India’s historic win against West Indies in 1971.
He played 29 Test matches for India and scored a total of 1,202 runs with a century and 7 fifties. Similarly 75 wickets were taken. In 1961-62, he played a key role in India winning the five-match Test series against England 2-0.
Salim Durani was born on December 11, 1934 in Kabul, Afghanistan. His family migrated to Karachi when he was 8 months old. His family came to India after the partition of India-Pakistan in 1947.
He was recognized as a quality all-rounder in the Indian team in the 1960s-70s. After announcing his retirement from cricket in 1973, he stepped into Bollywood. He worked with actor Praveen Bobby in the movie ‘Charitra’. Salim Durani was the first cricketer to receive the Arjuna Award. Former cricketer, former coach Ravi Shastri and VVS Laxman have condoled the death of Durani.
Easily one of the most colourful cricketers of India – Salim Durani.
Rest in Peace. ॐ शांति 🙏 pic.twitter.com/d5RUST5G9n
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) April 2, 2023