Salim Durani, a dapper cricketer for India in the 1960s with movie star looks, a puckish sense of humour, and a propensity for smashing massive sixes, passed away on Sunday.
He was 88. He had been residing in Jamnagar, Gujarat, with his younger brother, Jahangir Durani. Durani broke his thigh bone in an accident in January of this year, leading to proximal femoral nail surgery.
The powerful left-arm orthodox bowler and Afghanistan native, Durani played 29 Tests. He helped India overcome England 2-0 in the historic five-match Test series in 1961–1962, taking eight and 10 wickets in the team’s victories at Calcutta and Madras.
In the 50 innings, he played for his country, Durani, who was renowned for his dapper appearance and swagger, scored 1,202 runs but just one century. He also had seven fifty-run innings.
Ten years after the historic victory over England, he was instrumental in India’s victory over the West Indies in Port of Spain by dismissing both Sir Garfield Sobers and Clive Lloyd.
The well-known cricketer has experimented in Bollywood, appearing in the 1973 film Charitra alongside famed actor Praveen Babi.
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