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Against the turn

Photo: V. Sudershan

Vintage charm Wadhwaney rates Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi as the best Indian captain

When you get a book named “Muslim Cricketers of India”, the intentions of the author sound communal. But Kishin R. Wadhwaney intends to clear some cobwebs that continue to cloud some minds. “Many people think that Muslim players are not loyal to the team. I wanted to clear this perception. There have been allegations against Abbas Ali Baig and Mohammed Azharuddin but I don’t think they were in the wrong. Also there is a section which feels Muslims are discriminated against in selection. On the basis of my vast experience, I can say that in India religion has never been a criterion in the selection or omission of a player in the national team,” says the veteran journalist.

He not only gives Azhar a clean chit but terms him as the best Muslim batsman that the country has seen. “He did make the foolish mistake when during the match fixing controversy he said that he was being targeted because of his religion. He apologised for it later and the recent victory in the elections proves his mass appeal.”

Wadhwaney puts Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi as the best ever Indian captain “He advocated the no-zone policy at a time when players were selected on the basis of zonal quotas. He stopped the usage of regional languages in the dressing room and made the dressing room as the bed room where no outsider, even the media persons, could enter.” In the bowling department, he rates Ghulam Ahmed as the best.

Some of the legendary Muslim players, who could have played for India include Imran Khan and Wasim Akram had their fathers not opted to leave the country after Partition. “Hanif Mohammed could have also played for India. Nobody can justify Partition but if you take an optimistic point of view, there is so much talent in the subcontinent that two teams could easily be selected. And if you include Bangladesh, today, there are three Test playing teams from the subcontinent.”

The book gives some interesting tid bits like so far 31 Muslims have represented the country. Wadhwaney has discussed three umpires – Habibur Rehman Chaudhary, Mohammed Yunus and Ahmed Mohammed Mumsa. Few know that Syed Kirmani captained India in a One Day International and few care to notice that in the last season’s Ranji Trophy final, Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh were led by Wasim Jaffer and Mohammed Kaif respectively.

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