His batting never failed to entertain the spectators. He lofted the ball with relative ease over the boundaries. The sixes were synonymous with his name, the cricketer they knew as Salim Durrani

In an exclusive interview to CricInfo at the Islam Gymkhana during a first round match of the Talim shield, the former Indian all rounder, now 66 spoke on his career and the current issues that hurt him so much. Even though he retired from first class cricket a long time ago, he still has sleepless nights when India is on tour or when a foreign team visits India. The man's passion for the game is to be seen to be believed.

Durrani comes from a family of rich cricket heritage. His father Abdul Aziz, a Ranji Trophy player for Nawanagar, was his first inspiration. While his uncle played first class cricket in Jamnagar, his father played two unofficial Tests for India.

"Anyone who lived in Jamnagar would have been under the influence of sports. I would have played not only cricket but any game like hockey, football tennis or athletics.", he added.

Durrani relived his early days as an aspiring cricketer in the lanes and maidans of his native place. "We had 15-16 local teams of lads of my age and all had the aspiration for big cricket. I was only seven years old. There were many kids of that age group who used to play in those days. We all played with the love for the game. No one even thought of cheating in those days. There were no such thing as over aged boys in those days."

Durrani was heartbroken at the current turn of events in the age restricted tournaments. "It is all the fault of the administrators. They should be taken to task first." he felt. He added in a disappointing tone, "These people are only making money and looking after their petty interests and gains. The main motive is not served."

The former Indian match winner discussed the ways this menace had creeped into the system. "You start cricket at the grass root level, school cricket. It's here that the age controversy starts and it harms the game." He agreed that the boys would be dishonest only if they were backed by someone senior to them. "No teenager will fake his birth certificate and play in such tournaments."

The recent Cooch Behar Trophy was marred by protests on over aged players to the extent that 20 boys were sent for medical examination in the knock out stage. Eleven boys from the two finalists were also on the examination table on the last day of the Cooch Behar final in Pune. Durrani was dismayed by all this. He stated, "I played as a 10-year-old boy for my school. That same year I played for Saurashtra schools in the Cooch Behar Trophy. I made a record by taking seven catches in the match. I am so very disappointed to see the way the players and associations are boldly doing this." The Cooch Behar Trophy has fond memories for him as it kick started his illustrious career.

Durrani was one of the few batsmen to have scored a hundred on Ranji Trophy debut. While advising the youngsters of today, he stressed on the mental fitness of players. "We never bothered who the opposition was. We were never affected by the big names. These days you need to idolise a player, but not to get affected by big names. The mental approach should be different. The young players should play against the big names, only then they can surface as true champions."

Durrani stressed that he always played the mind game. He was always aggressive in his approach. As he commented, "Hitting the ball was very natural to me. If I did not hit the ball hard, it did not look like me."

Durrani has enterprising plans for the future. He has set up an academy in Mumbai with Chanawala Sports Club. The director, Mushtaq Chanawala runs the club with two centres at Azad Maidan and Bhiwandi in Mumbai. "I have a mobile clinic, I will go around, keeping an eye on players and on conditions. I pick 60 boys from three states and have a camp for 2-3 months." added Durrani. "I classify them in the categories they play. I would like to find all-rounders, but I would not change an extraordinary player like Tendulkar or Dravid."

"I advise all youngsters to become all-rounders," said Durrani. "They must have the aptitude to become an all-rounder. One day cricket is more exciting, wheras the five day game is classic cricket which gives ample opportunity to display your art of bowling, batting and fielding and it improves your mental strategy."

Durrani said he planned to make the players thinkers of the game, so they can become good captains. "While one day cricket has not contributed much except as entertainment value, it certainly has improved the fielding, because one day cricket needs greater physical fitness. Though that doesn't mean that the five days game does not need it," said the cricketer who would have been a natural for the one day game.

In conclusion, Durrani said his services are available for the NCA. "If they ask me, I will certainly help in the programmes. I would love to give back something to the game in whichever manner I can serve it."

© CricInfo