Wasim Hasan Raja, born July 3, 1952, is one of Pakistan’s most talented all-rounders, who has left an invaluable mark on the game with his beautiful batting, his contributions with the ball and commitment to the sport.
Cricket enthusiasts are still celebrating his legacy as he had a lasting impact on Pakistan cricket.
Fans remember him today on his birthday.
Raja played for Pakistan in 57 Test matches and 54 One-Day internationals from 1973 to 1985.
Played in middle order with style and was renowned for his fearless attitude, fluent strokeplay and elegant timing.
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His right-arm wrist spin turned out to be valuable as well, as he took 51 Test wickets, including the wickets of batting legends like Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Glenn Turner and Roy Fredericks.
His impact was felt beyond the borders that separated countries.
He played 250 first-class games, and hauled 558 wickets and scored 11,434 runs, a testament to his incredible value as a true all-rounder.
Hailing from Multan, Raja was studying political science at Government College Lahore and was captain of Pakistan under-19 cricket team in his younger days.
His roots were in cricket as his father, Raja Saleem Akhtar, and younger brothers, Ramiz Raja and Zaeem Raja, also played the game.
Ramiz was subsequently chosen as the captain of Pakistan’s national team.
Upon retirement from International cricket, Raja permanently settled in England where he started to teach, coach and nurture young cricketers.
He went on to be a school teacher, coach the Under-19 team of Pakistan and officiate in 15 Tests and 34 ODIs between 2002 and 2004 as International Cricket Council match referee.
Sadly, on 23rd August 2006 Raja while playing the game of cricket, suffered a heart attack, he was playing in Buckinghamshire, England, a truly sad occasion for cricket fans all over the World.
In the present day, Wasim Raja is remembered for not only his classy agility at the crease and match-winning prowess but also his modesty, commitment, and lasting legacy in Pakistan cricket. His impact on cricket is still felt by everyone after all these years.
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