Ailing 1996 UAE World Cup cricket star Raza in dire straits
dubai — From that high of the 1996 World Cup, the UAE’s first appearance in cricket’s showpiece, it has been more than a low for Saleem Raza these days.
All-rounder Raza, who famously smacked six sixes in an over against The Netherlands, to equal the great West Indian Sir Vivian Richards, is in dire straits. He is without a job, ill and now left to fend for himself and his family.
Raza will turn 54 next month and his eye sight is slowly failing him. He is also a diabetic. Raza finds himself in a heart-wrenching situation, where he has to take care of four small daughters, six sisters, of which two are widowed. They have nine children and Raza is the sole breadwinner for his family.
Saleem Raza was the country’s hero at that World Cup, jointly hosted by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, single-handedly pulling off that famous
I’m in Pakistan and I don’t have any work. My eyes are not working properly and I am diabetic patient. I have a big family to take care of Saleem Raza
win against The Netherlands.
It was the first ever official ODI between the two Associate sides and the match at his hometown Lahore’s Gadaffi Stadium was a memorable one for Raza. Raza smacked those six sixes, in an individual score of 84 from 68 balls.
But that was to be his last match and he played six ODIs in total for the UAE. Raza made his debut against India at Sharjah in 1994 and starred in the ICC Trophy in Kenya where he plundered 286 runs and took 14 wickets. He was adjudged the Player of the Tournament.
Before his move to the UAE, Raza played domestic cricket in his native Pakistan and also represented the country of his birth. Raza smashed a record unbeaten 286 in Pakistan’s one-day Wizz Cup to equal former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja.
Raza moved to the UAE in 1986 and went on to play domestic and international cricket for the UAE. He hit more than 130 centuries in domestic cricket both in the Pakistan and the UAE, including two centuries in two different tournaments in a day.
Raza worked with GAMCO, ADAT and Etihad Airways from 1990 before leaving for Pakistan last year.
“Abdul Rahman Bukhatir and UAE captain Sultan Zarawani helped me a lot in my career. Now, I’m in Pakistan and I don’t have any work. My eyes are not working properly and I am diabetic patient. I have a big family to take care of and I’m the only person who is supporting them. Please help me,” pleaded Raza.
james@khaleejtimes.com