Few days back, Arman Jaffer, the nephew of Wasim Jaffer, cracked a triple hundred in one of the Under-19 tournaments. And come Wednesday, his 40-year-old uncle Wasim Jaffer, better known as the run-machine from Mumbai, reached another batting feat in the domestic circuit which no Indian has ever done. He became the first batsman to complete 11,000 runs in the Ranji Trophy and like Sachin Tendulkar’s record of century of centuries in international cricket, this record will also need some beating.
Sometimes, I really wonder from where he gets his energy and motivation. In the last 40 years, I have donned the many hats, from being a player to a chief selector and I have seen hundreds of players, starting their cricketing career and retiring. This Mumbai lad was no different.
The Thorough Gentleman
Wasim’s name first started emerging in the school cricket circuit and later his discipline and dedication gave him a place in Indian team too. I have seen Wasim grow from a boy into a man or you can say a man of steel. He had tremendous hunger for runs and even after reaching forty, his hunger has not gone down.
Wasim was the main pillar of the Mumbai Ranji team and did a great service for more than a decade. While playing and captaining Mumbai’s Ranji side, I have met so many cricketers both young and old in Mumbai’s day-to-day life.
But, interstingly, whenever I met Wasim it was always on the cricket ground either practicing or playing a match for his club National at the Cross Maidan or for his Ranji side Mumbai at the Wankhede.
A thorough gentleman, most well-mannered, very stylish, soft-spoken Wasim Jaffer has always been popular amongst all age groups. Whether he plays club cricket, office cricket, Ranji cricket, and international cricket.
Dark Knight of Indian Cricket
In early 2000s I thought Wasim Jaffer could be the next wall of Indian cricket. But people believe Wasim never did justice to his talent while playing for India, instead I would say the selectors did not do justice to him by not giving him more oppurtunities.
He was part of that Indian cricket team which has top batters like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly. He mostly used to warm the bench and I believe team management and selectors were ignorant about his talent.
However, many players who were less talented than Wasim used to get chance in Indian team, which was quite surprising. By the time I had become the chief selector Wasim had passed his prime, he had a few fitness issues also, but our selection committee was keeping a keen eye on his consistent performances in the domestic circuit.
‘Answered His Critics With the Bat’
I think we have another example of Sachin Tendulkar in Wasim who plays cricket, breathes cricket and drinks cricket. I really don’t know from where he gets his hunger. In Indian cricket people are more bothered about the player’s age than his form and hunger and that’s where I believe Wasim Jaffer has lost out.
Wasim Jaffer was the one of those who used to answer his critics with his bat and never asked any selector for any favour. In Indian cricket sometimes players are selfless and thus are not able to catch the eyes of Indian selectors or even of the team management. But the players who are flashy and have good marketing skills get an entry in the squad.
The Vidharbha Innings
Going from strength to strength as years are passing by, he has done great service to the game of cricket. Even after knowing that he is not going to get any chance to represent India, he has made himself available to guide and share his experience with the upcoming Vidharbha team. His presence and influence in the dressing room and on the ground has already proven beneficial for the Vidharbha Ranji side. His contribution will never go unnoticed. Today, he stands tall along with other greats of Indian cricket and I am sure he will get taller every time he takes the field from here on. Let’s hope he gets more strength to achieve the impossible.
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