'Sixer' Salim Durrani to get Lifetime award

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.

Salim Durani 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