Wasim Raja
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (May 2023) |
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Wasim Hasan Raja | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | [1] | 3 July 1952|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National side |
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Test debut (cap 67) | 2 February 1973 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Test | 25 January 1985 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ODI debut (cap 11) | 11 February 1973 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last ODI | 10 March 1985 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: ESPNCricinfo, 4 February 2017 |
Wasim Hasan Raja (
His younger brother, Ramiz Raja, also represented Pakistan in Tests and ODIs, becoming captain of the national side. Another brother, Zaeem Raja, also played first-class cricket, as did his father, Saleem Akhtar.
Early and personal life
Wasim Raja was born in
He settled in London after marrying an Englishwoman, Ann. From 1989, Raja studied for a PGCE at Durham University, where he signed up for the cricket team.[2] He had a spell teaching geography, mathematics and physical education at Caterham School in Surrey. He was also a coach for the Pakistan Under-19 team, and an International Cricket Council match referee in 15 Tests and 34 ODIs from 2002 to 2004.
He died of a heart attack in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, in August 2006 while playing cricket for the Surrey over-50s side. He is survived by his wife and his sons, Ali and Ahmad.
Career
During his playing career, Raja was known primarily as a dashing middle-order left-handed batsman, with a characteristically generous backlift and breathtaking strokeplay combining a keen eye with wristy execution. Raja also bowled flat wrist spin with his right hand that was good enough to take 51 wickets in Tests, with his scalps including Clive Lloyd, Roy Fredericks, Glenn Turner and Viv Richards. In all, he played in 250 first-class matches, scoring 11,434 runs at an average of 35.18, including 17 centuries, and taking 558 wickets at an average of 29.05.
His finest hour in Test cricket was the tour to the West Indies in 1976–77, when he topped the Pakistani
Book
With Adam Licudi, Cornered Tigers: History of Pakistan’s Test Cricket from Abdul Kardar to Wasim Akram, 1997, 300 p.
See also
References
- ^ "Cricketing Dynasties: The Twenty Two Families of Pakistan Test Cricket – Part 4 | Sports". The News International. Pakistan. 14 June 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- ^ Holloway, Adrian (9 November 1989). "Racecourse". Palatinate. No. 441. p. 23. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
External links
- Wasim Raja at ESPNcricinfo
- Wasim Raja – A breathtaking strokeplayer, Cricinfo, 23 August 2005
- Only the good die young, Cricinfo, 23 August 2006
- Wasim Raja dies playing cricket, Cricinfo, 23 August 2006
- Obituary, The Daily Telegraph, 24 August 2006
- Obituary, The Times, 24 August 2006
- Obituary, The Guardian, 25 August 2006