Nostalgic Zaheer bats for India-Pak cricket

The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry these days is restricted to ICC events, but in the 1970s and 1980s the neighbours played a lot against each other.

- Sanjeev K Samyal

MUMBAI: Whenever a great player of that era discusses the game, it evokes nostalgia.

For those who followed cricket in the 1970s, Zaheer Abbas is a revered name. The stylish Pakistan batter who was dubbed Asia's Bradman for his prolific scoring—he has 108 first-class centuries—regaled a select gathering at the Cricket Club of India going down memory lane.

As a batting artist, he was an entertainer par excellence. Former India pacer Karsan Ghavri, who has played against Zed (his nickname) recalled his class. "Even in T20s we see batters play three-four dot balls, but there was no dot ball when Zed was at the crease, he would be looking for a run every ball, manoeuvring the field," said Ghavri, gesturing to indicate the renowned wristwork of Zaheer. For Indian bowlers, he was the toughest batter to dislodge, averaging 87 in 19 Tests with six hundreds—his first three innings against India were 176, 96 and 235, in 1978.