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| Caught redhanded |
Hyderabad Blues |
 Sultan Saleem wrote himself into the record books while still a schoolboy cricketer, when he scored a triple hundred and a double hundred in the two innings of an inter-school match.
This was in the sixties and when I joined the State Bank of India team in 1971, Saleem was one of the first colleagues I met. I expected him to be a formidable chap, given the aura that surrounded his name. In contrast, I found him to be friendly, ever smiling and encouraging - and I needed all the encouragement as a newcomer. He, Test wicket keeper P Krishnamurthy, attacking batsman Nagesh Hamand and fast bowler Lyn Edwards adopted me as their favourite disciple and tried - often unsuccessfully - to inject large doses of cricket wisdom into my rather obtuse head. Barely older than me, they showed concern for young talent that has become rare over the years.
Soon, I became close enough to my new found friends to be able to share their jokes and enjoy their leg pulling which, when not directed at me, was invariably reserved for
Saleem.
Saleem never really fulfilled his early promise, though he played Ranji Trophy cricket for over a decade, in and out of the team rather than consistent. A natty dresser, and a man of impeccable taste, Saleem did not believe in exerting himself unduly on the field. Every now and then, he played brilliant innings, even the occasional defiant one, but by and large, he was more concerned with preserving the crease of his trousers and keeping his hair in place. At the end of a long day's cricket, he could look fresh as a daisy when the rest of us resembled bedraggled soldiers returning from trench warfare. He was a close friend of Hyderabad's charismatic captain M L Jaisimha, and he was a constant presence when Jai and friends sat and talked cricket over a few beers long after the day's play was over, though he himself never touched liquor.
 Two incidents involving Saleem stand out in memory decades after they occurred. The first happened during a determined innings he was putting together in a local match at the Lal Bahadur Stadium. Desperately in need of runs, and having survived into his thirties, he was keen to make a big score. A left arm spinner rapped him on his pads as he played half-cock forward and a loud appeal instantly went up. The umpire 'Sam' Swaminathan was an old friend and Saleem thought he could influence him by suggesting he had played the ball, though bat had been nowhere near ball. He pointed the bat towards the umpire to suggest he had got a snick, and Sam, naturally believed that indication to be true, coming from such a senior batsman. (Had it been someone younger or less well known, 'Sam' would have withered him with one of his imperious looks and given him a dressing down then and there).
Unfortunately, the ball popped up and short leg caught it, and now there was a fresh appeal for a catch. Naturally, the umpire had no choice but to give him out. Poor Saleem began a long trudge back to the pavilion, wondering whether Sam might have given him the benefit of doubt had he not misled him into believing he had played the ball.
The other episode was even funnier. This time too Saleem was in need of runs and he was facing a young and lively pace bowler. The late C R Chandran, a close friend of his, was peppering him with short pitched deliveries on a matting wicket at the South Central Railway ground at Secunderabad. There was much banter back and forth and the bowler was challenging the batsman to hook, and not duck like a coward! Saleem who had no intention of getting his nose rearranged in the process was studiously concentrating on getting well out of the way of the offending deliveries.
 One bouncer was particularly nasty and Saleem got a handle to it while trying to protect his face. The ball popped up in a gentle arc some ten feet above the batsman's head. It was anybody's catch. Short leg or silly point could have gone for it, but Saleem managed to stand almost right under the trajectory of the ball without making it seem an obvious attempt at obstruction. He succeeded in his attempt, and as the ball came down, none of the fielders within reach attempted the catch.
But Saleem's relief at this reprieve was extremely short lived. Unfortunately for him the ball that eluded the close in fielders landed on the pitch and then went on to hit the stumps. Exit Sultan Saleem.
Also by the author: Chennai
Chat, Curdrice Cricket
Profile of V. Ramnarayan
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