Salim Aziz Durani is a former Indian cricketer in both national and international level. He played 29 Test, national and international matches from 1960 to 1973. From his early times, he showed a number of talents in regional cricket arena. Salim Aziz Durani was an all-rounder. He was a slow left-arm orthodox bowler and a left-handed batsman famous for his six-hitting prowess.
Early Life of Salim Aziz Durani
Salim Aziz Durani was born on 11th December in the year 1934 in Kabul, located in Afghanistan. During his childhood days, Durani took part in a variety of sports like cricket, tennis and football. However, cricket was his first love. His father Abdul Aziz was a decent cricketer, who once played for India in an "unofficial" Test match against the Australians in 1935-36. As his father used to work for the ruler of Jamnagar, he shifted with his family to that place.
Career of Salim Aziz Durani
Salim Aziz Durani made his Test debut at the age of 25 years against a Richie Benaud-led Australian side in Mumbai in 1960. He became the hero when he entered in the International Cricket arena. He was the monitor of the victory of Indian National Cricket Team against England Cricket team in the year 1961 to 1962.
Salim Aziz Durani took 8 and 10 wickets in their wins at Calcutta Cricket Team and Madras Cricket Team respectively. Also, a decade later he was instrumental in India"s victory against West Indies at Port of Spain, taking the wickets of Clive Lloyd and Gary Sobers.
In his 50 Test innings, he made just 1 century, 104 against the West Indies Cricket team in the year 1962. Salim Aziz Durani played for Gujarat Cricket Team, Rajasthan Cricket Team and Saurashtra Cricket Team in first-class cricket arena.
Salim Aziz Durani made 14 hundreds in first-class cricket in which he managed 8545 runs at 33.37. He has the distinction of being the only cricketer that would respond to a demand from the crowd to hit a sixer. Salim Aziz Durani played his last Test against England at the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai in 1973.
Batting and Fielding Averages of Salim Aziz Durani
| Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | 6s | Ct | St | |
| Tests | 29 | 50 | 2 | 1202 | 104 | 25.04 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 0 |
| First-class | 170 | 275 | 19 | 8545 | 137* | 33.37 | 14 | 45 | Nil | 144 | 4 |
| List A | 3 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 21 | 17 | 0 | 0 | Nil | 1 | 0 |
Bowling Averages of Salim Aziz Durani
| Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
| Tests | 29 | 46 | 6446 | 2657 | 75 | Jun-73 | 10/177 | 35 | 2.5 | 85.9 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| First-class | 170 | Nil | 28130 | 12630 | 484 | Aug-99 | Nil | 26 | 2.7 | 58.1 | 21 | 2 | |
| List A | 3 | Nil | 126 | 52 | 4 | Feb-23 | Feb-23 | 2.5 | 31.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bollywood Career of Salim Aziz Durani
Salim Aziz Durani appeared in a film named “Charitra†with Parveen Babi in the year 1973.
Achievements of Salim Aziz Durani
Salim Aziz Durani was the first Indian cricketer to win an Arjuna Award. He was awarded the C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by the Board of Cricket Control of India in the year 2011.
