Pinch-hitter,once upon a time in Mumbai

Unke dada jaante honge mujhe, Durrani says about the children around him,flashing the big smile that was a major reason for his popularity in the 60s and 70s. Grandfathers and some cricket-crazy grannies would certainly recognise the man who played 29 Tests for India for a batting average of 25,and 75 wickets.

But numbers could never explain this the phenomenon that was Durrani.

The story of his sixes on demand isnt as well known as it might possibly have been,and younger fans might not necessarily have seen tapes of his batting or heard or read about his stylish batsmanship. But Durrani,now 76,has made peace with that and sees the bright side of the honour coming his way.

Good it has come late,had it come earlier I would have wasted that money. At least now I will give it to my daughter, he says,visibly excited.

Durrani was one of Indian crickets original style icons the upturned collar standing proudly,a style made famous by Mohd Azharuddin,was originally his. Even now,he lights a chhota Goldflake with a flourish typical of the man,while keeping an eye on the Colts U-14 match at the Maidan.

He readily agrees to an interview,and quips that all the attention might fade away within minutes of his stepping out of the spotlight tomorrow. Indeed,Durrani has never felt the intense stalking power of new-age media.

He roars with laughter when asked to imagine what it would have been like had he been born in this generation of cricketers. 8220;There were no one-dayers then,only Test matches. One-dayers were looked at as entertainment and we batted like todays batsmen slog in T20. Borde,me,Pataudi and others never knew then that we were such powerful hitters,8221; he recalls. Durrani batted lefthanded,and he sees a bit of himself in Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina now,and jokes that some of his shots were the same,though there were no cheerleaders outside the boundary rope.

As the conversation flows,Durrani reveals some of what occupies his mind these days like his worry that his waitlisted train ticket to Jamnagar might not get confirmed. He recently got some visiting cards printed,saying he played for India,and is an Arjuna awardee,which sometimes helps him get confirmed tickets.

8220;No one knows me,30 years have passed since I last played. People have forgetten. Sometimes it feels odd to introduce yourself but its okay,Im used to it now,8221; he rambles,summing up a career that was charismatic and enigmatic in equal measure,and gave Indian cricket its own imploding George Best character.

Does he meet any of his old teammates? Sometimes,he says. Those close to him recount how Salimbhai always returns home penniless after an evening out with friends,having spent all his money treating them. I always lived life on my terms,I enjoyed every moment. Some people do earn money but they dont earn respect. I have earned respect, he laughs.

Durrani now wants to write a book. Beyond Sixes as the title seems perfect for the maverick Kabul-born cricketer. Lensmen ask him for a quick photo with the bat in the middle of the ongoing match. As he walks towards the crease,some small boys tell him to wait till the over has ended. He pauses,smiling rather like the thousand hearts that paused when,many years ago,Salim Durrani was on song in the middle.