Wasim Raja remembered – a man who ascended the heavens with his pads on
Wasim Raja was born in the city of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Punjab-c833 University, excelling at cricket. He was then called to play a test match for the national team in 1972-73.
Wasim Raja was a wonderful left-handed stroke master, and a crafty leg spinner along with being an outstanding cover fielder. He has represented http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zaheer-Abbas-c98435. Wasim’s brother is none other than international cricket player and famous commentator Rameez Raja. Wasim Raja was a prodigy at the age of 18 when he faced bowlers like Imran Khan without wearing pads in the nets. Imran showered praise on the player who opined that "Wasim was in a different class altogether and was already batting with a maturity beyond his years".
Wasim however did not enjoy the hierarchy that had evolved in the Pakistani side as he once famously refused to hang a senior players’ socks outside to dry out. Rameez Raja followed him in the test side, for Pakistan and both the brothers proved to be an asset for the Pakistan cricket team in terms of quality cricketing years spent for the national side. Cricket ran through their family. Their father http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Raja-Saleem-Akhtar-c83405 was a first-class cricketer as well. Their third brother Zaeem Raja played for the National Bank as well. As they say, the passion for cricket was something that these brothers had genetically inherited.
He began to establish himself as a player of class during his visit to England in 1974 where he topped the tour averages for the team. While playing against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 in Karachi in the same year, he scored his maiden test century. It was noted that his innings was played so beautifully that “instead of the usual handful of well-wishers that used to run on to the field to congratulate a batsman on reaching three figures, there was a full-scale invasion.”
He was a magnificent batsman whose batting prowess could be judged by his batting average against the world class side of West Indies during the 11 test matches that he played against them. He scored with an average of 57.43 against the likes of bowlers like Malcolm Marshal, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Joel-Garner-c67141 and Colin Croft. He made 919 runs in those 11 appearances a record only Greg Chappell managed to exceed during that era. He also hit 14 sixes in the series, setting a record that has been equalled 4 times but still remains the only occurrence away from home.
He also played superbly against arch rivals http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, hitting two scores in excess of 90 in a test match during 1978/79 season where the batting line had otherwise crumbled. Wasim scored his highest score of 125 not out against them and took 4 for 50 in the same match with his under-utilized leg spin.
Wasim Raja played county cricket for a number of years. He was a committed player who was known for his mild and urbane temperament, however this did not hold true in the years to come since he had a number of disagreements with the PCB. He was also a coach for the Pakistani under19 cricket team and ICC match referee for 15 tests and 34 ODI’s. On 23rd of August, 2006 Wasim Raja collapsed on the cricket field while playing a match for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Surrey-c851’s over 50. Wasim Raja is survived by two sons. His contributions to the field of cricket are many, and he will surely be remembered as one of the finest cricketers from Pakistan.
“Wasim Raja — one of the most elegant batsmen ever; a swashbuckling heartthrob who seemed to be from a different era all-together; the thinking man’s cricketers; the last of the ‘gentleman players’; someone who was always a joy to watch playing and an even bigger joy to spend an evening talking cricket to — just died. The news is too fresh, the details too uncertain, and my emotions too strong, for me to write a proper post.” wrote a friend on a cricket forum soon after his death.
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