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KARACHI: Prominent cricket personalities, friends and colleagues showered praise on former Test cricketer and chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed Sallu for his tremendous services to the game of cricket, his outstanding career with the national airlines and his invaluable personal traits at the impressive launch ceremony of his book Sallu — An Autobiography at a local hotel here on Tuesday.
Sallu’s preference to merit throughout his career as selection committee member and chief selector was highlighted by former captains Saeed Anwar, Moin Khan and Rashid Latif who thanked the burly author for being a fine advisor to the cricketers of all ages and for giving the deserving players a chance to always show their talent.
Hanif Mohammad, a former captain and one of the finest batsmen to grace the game, while recalling the early days of Sallu’s career said he was an intelligent player who really worked hard at his game.
“Way back in 1965, I recommended Sallu’s name to the then chief selector and asked him to consider him for the national team because he [Sallu] was Test material by all means,” said Hanif.
Squash legend Jahangir Khan and all-rounder Shahid Afridi, while speaking on the occasion, eulogised Sallu’s services to the game and said he was one person whom friends could rely on totally in the toughest of situations.
Long-time friend and ex-hockey captain Islahuddin fondly recollected the days he and Sallu had spent during their teens. “I learnt my cricket from Sallu and he allowed me the opportunity to play with some illustrious people in his benefit match in 1975 and also in 1976,” recalled Islah.
“His family has stood by him and this book is ample proof of Sallu’s dedication to them as well as Pakistan cricket.”
Former PCB chairman Khalid Mahmood amused the audience by narrating a few incidents which reflected on Sallu’s refined taste in poetry and literature.
“He [Sallu] always had a couplet ready for the various occasions which was such a great quality,” said Khalid who flew in specially from Lahore to attend the book launch.
“He [Sallu] could diffuse the thorniest of situations by reciting poetry and was an honest chief selector who would never bow down to pressure,” he said Ex-PCB chairman Arif Abbasi and famous TV anchor Kamran Khan also spoke on the occasion and described their long-time association with Sallu as a cherished one by all counts. One of Sallu’s admirers and friends Dr Kashif, who specially flew in from Houston, announced a ‘Sallu Scholarship’ which he said will specifically be offered to the children of former cricketers.
The book, Sallu — An Autobiography which has been penned by Sallu in Urdu, is an interesting account of his life and times, his wonderful associations both on and off the field, the great influences in his career, and, of course, his undying love for literature and poetry which endeared him to one and all.
In the end, Sallu said he has dedicated the book to his parents without whose guidance he could not achieve anything in life.
Renowned tv writer Anwar Maqsood, who acted as moderator, had the audience in fits with his anecdotes and crisp one-liners while highlighting Sallu’s career and love for poetry.
Former Test cricketers Iqbal Qasim, Sadiq Mohammad, Jalaluddin, Tauseef Ahmed, Salim Jaffar, Iqbal Sikander, Abdul Raqueeb, ex-hockey captain Abdul Waheed Khan and Hanif Khan, event coordinator Asif Azeem besides a large number of sports organisers, friends and relatives attended the ceremony.
I will remember sallu as the guy who tore the team Lawson gave him . After that whole media propaganda started against lawson and he was fired.
Sallu sahib, belongs to a respectable known family of Barabanki. Beside being a cricketer he is a literary and poetic person. May Allah blesses him with health and happiness, peace and prosperity.
Ahsan Fazli, New York
Uncle Sallu a great human and very helpful person, I am not his relative but I know him through PIA, you would find very less people like him in this world who would help others without any interest and by the way people who judge others have no status of their self. So pls if you want to judge uncle Sallu then read his book and it will give you his life to now but then look at yourself in da mirror and think have you ever done anything to make your country proud or any Pakistani proud and if he helps friends or they help him.
Sallu Bhai is not only a cricket legend, an able administrator, an excellent chief selector, an out-standing ex PIA employee, a wonderful friend of friends but also a great human being.
I had the honor of knowing him and meeting up with him in person on face-to-face basis many times in UAE as well as in Karachi courtesy my great friend and mentor Rehan Ullah Siddiquei or 'Rehan Bhai' as he is commonly and fondly known all over the world.
'Sallu Bhai's personality and profile is a profound pleasure to know. I had had some un- forgetful meetings with him including several historical interactions in his former PIA building office near the famous Karachi press club. He is indeed a gem of a person and a highly friendly, compassionate, cooperating and understanding person.
I even had the honor of meeting up in person with his tall elder brother several times in UAE who also used to play high level cricket as a fast bowler along with former Pakistani test cricketers like Asif Iqbal, Mushtaq Mohammad, Waqar Hassan and Hanif Mohammad and toured with them to Dhaka in the good old days as a cricket team member.
I have no hesitation or deliberation to state that both Sallu Bhai and his elder cricketer brother are wonderful people. May God Almighty provide them more resources and opportunities to spread the message of cricket all over the world and further help young and budding cricketers of the land of the pure and support them more to show their latent God given skills and traits on global level. Aameen, Tsum Aameen.
did u attend the national cricket coaching camp at karachi in 1960
Sallu Saheb played just one test match but he has enjoyed uncountable benefit functions. His friends and colleuges have helped him a lot in organizing benefits & fund raisers for him in UK, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Jeddah.
Now he has come up with a book.
sallu was never a good cricketer. he never did anything for the glory of cricket in Pakistan, and now he is writing a book? why should anyone read his book, he is of no such value!!!!
No ones forcing you to read his book. Stop crying about it and don't read it. He's a lot more successful than whoever you are to the point that he can actually write a book about it. The best you can do is voice your opinion on an article on a person that you don't even like.
Here, here! I will second that.
Tariq is inconsiderate
I have seen him playing against (ceylone) now sri lanka which inspired me to bat like him. He is true gentelman i have seen him play numerous time playing W/national sports.Once he came to bat against pak crescent club in KCA league match at Sangham sports ground, Hanif bhai came to bowl him I think it was the first ball of the over which hit the pad Hanif bhai apeal for LBW so loud ,that umpire gave him out . fearing Hanif bhai beibg world renowned batsman ,even hanif bhai was smiling, Sallu bhai left crease smilingly. (Good old days)
He is the same person who abused Asif Iqbal like anything, when visiting India cricket and defeated….He himself a mediocre Spinner.
Lahoris gave best welcome to Qasim when he returned.
You don't even know who you are talking about, Iqbal Qasim and Asif Iqbal are two different players.
Afaque
Read twice before u write!!! I said Asif Iqbal… may be u were too young at that time….OR now above 70yrs and forget!!!
ASif Iqbal was abused by Col. Shujauddin during that interview which I happened to watch in 1980. It was not Salahuddin who was an excellent allrounder (5 tests between 1964-1969). Shujauddin played 11 tests in the 1950s.
let the guy enjoy his retirement. we all have imperfectness
imperfectness OK
But abusing….my goodness
Asif Iqbal was best allrounder we had and Captain too…In UK now
Let the guy not distort history.
He was a selector. That gives him unlimited authority to judge criticize and drop. I doubt that he actually abused, that's not in his nature at all so you are clearly lying. Get your facts right, and 50 years of cricket experience is a lot more than your limited knowledge.