Salim Durani thrilled with the prospect of India playing Afghanistan

Former Indian cricketer Salim Durani turned 83 on Monday. Known for his six-hitting prowess and left-arm orthodox bowling, he played for India from 1960-73. The former batsman who was a veteran of 29 Tests had two reasons to remember his birthday.

It was the day that saw the wedding of Indian skipper Virat Kohli to actress Anushka Sharma. However, the biggest news from the cricketing circles was the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announcing that Afghanistan would play its inaugural Test against India.

The news has given me more joy

Salim was born in Kabul and remains to be the only Indian cricketer to hail from Afghanistan. Hence, there was no surprise that the news of his birth country playing their inaugural game against India gave him more pleasure.

“The news of Afghanistan to play its first Test against India has given me more joy than Kohli marrying Anushka on my birthday,” he was quoted as saying by Kashmir Times.

“Kohli would have married on any day but the announcement on my birthday that my birth country would start its Test journey against India, which is a Big team, is a bigger news to me. Being an Indian I love India,” he added.

Kohli is like my son

The former cricketer stated that he looks at Kohli like a son. He had his own aspirations for their wedding but congratulated the couple.

“Kohli is like my son. It was his decision (with Anushka) to have destination marriage. But personally I feel both being Indians should have married in our country. But I wish a very happy marriage life to the couple.”.

Recalling his meeting with the Indian skipper Virat Kohli, Durani added, “Our meeting took place in a restaurant. I did invite him for a dinner but he had politely declined it.”