http://mid-day.com/sports/local/2007/january/150233.htmHe could have been a 1971 hero...
By: Clayton Murzello
January 16, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAEED Hatteea agrees to meet up at the Kennedy Seaface, whose gymkhanas are littered with flannelled kids approaching the end of their evening net session.
As the kids play on, Hatteea admires the Mumbai skyline. He’s seen quite a few pretty sights all over the world through his postings for Marks & Spencer, but the Queen’s necklace has a glowing effect on him.
Mumbai lionHatteea, who will turn 57 next month, played two seasons for Mumbai (1969-70 and 1970-71). He was a quick bowler, who was tipped to make it in the Indian team for their historic 1970-71 tour of the West Indies. When he didn’t make the cut, he returned to England and pursue his non-cricketing dreams.
Hatteea’s cricketing saga is fascinating. He studied at St Mary’s here before completing his schooling in London. He played for the English schoolboys in the late 1960s. In 1969, he returned to India and discovered that Vijay Merchant, then chairman of national selectors, was looking for him.
The Surrey county cricket board had recommended his name to Merchant, who wanted to try out Hatteea in West Zone’s tie against the touring Australians. But Hatteea only met Merchant after the Oct 31-Nov 2, 1969 tie in Pune.
A relative who worked for the advertising agency that handled Merchant’s Thackersey Mills’ account helped the promising fast bowler meet the Indian batting legend.
He was drafted in the Mumbai team under Ajit Wadekar and was impressive with his pace. A five-for against Gujarat at Surat in early 1970 was his best effort.
On holidayHatteea, a close friend of Sunil Gavaskar, was in Mumbai to attend the marriage of former Mumbai captain Milind Rege’s son. He likes the looks of Mumbai better than when he was here in 1996. “I was disappointed then. I thought the city had not progressed enough. But I see a change now,” he said.
Back to his playing days. “I always played under Wadekar except for one match when Dilip Sardesai deputised. We were a bloody good team — good batsmen and very balanced bowling attack. And the camaraderie was great,” he said.
A reunion party at Sportsfield, where the likes of Wadekar and Gavaskar reside, was fulfilling. “I met a lot of my teammates. The one guy I did not expect to meet was little wicketkeeper Sharad Hazare. I have yet to meet Sardesai and I would have liked to meet Vijay Bhosale, but he is in New Zealand.”
Ajit Wadekar’s team in the West Indies in 1970-71. It was the first Indian team to win in the Caribbean before Rahul Dravid’s outfit won in 2006
Hatteea has no qualms about not getting picked for the 1971 tour. “Look, we must understand that the selectors have a very difficult job. They picked D Govindraj and that was a right choice,” he said.
“I love the game dearly. I can’t understand when I read about cricketers taking breaks in any class of cricket. You are picked to play for your club/country/state. How can you not play? It is the ultimate honour to represent a team.”
Hatteea left for England when he did not get picked for India. He missed out on the Caribbean sunshine, but witnessed India’s 1971 Oval Test win from the stands. “I had tears in my eyes. I could have been on that field. But again… no regrets.”
The Indian board summoned him to figure in a couple of practice matches for the 1975 World Cup. He sent a few batsmen to hospital at the new Wankhede Stadium but that did not get him a berth in the squad. He returned to England to resume his grind.
What could have been“I was offered a job at State Bank of India by Ajit Wadekar and Ashok Mankad asked if I would play for Mafatlal Sports Club. But my wife was in England.”
As much as he was proud to wear the Mumbai cap and come close for India recognition, Hatteea was also thrilled to represent Rest of the World against T N Pearce XI in 1970. He opened the bowling with Sarfraz Nawaz and claimed four wickets in the match at Scarborough.
In eight first-class games, he claimed 27 wickets. Hatteea could have been one of the many mourners in Indian cricket. But he is far from bitter.
His sweet voice tells us that he is grateful for whatever has come his way.
Hard to find the likes of Hatteea.
THAT sunny DAY...On the day the selectors were to meet to decide on India’s 1971 squad to the West Indies, Saeed Hatteea and Sunil Gavaskar went to the movies. The tension was too much and they left the theatre before the completion of the film.
They dropped in at the Bombay Cricket Association office to check whether the selectors had finished their meeting, but were told that they were still in discussion. So, they decided to take the train home.
Train rideIn his autobiography Sunny Days, Gavaskar writes: “Saeed, with his long hair, was easily recognised and many commuters ‘selected’ him in the team.
When Saeed very politely pointed to me and asked, “What about Mr Gavaskar?” they said, OK. He will also be there,” but they did not sound convincing. We parted company wishing each other luck and promising to phone on hearing the news.”
Phone phobiaWhen Gavaskar finally heard the news of his selection and Hatteea’s non-selection, he admitted not having the heart to phone him.
Hatteea was glued to his radio at his Bandra home. “They did not announce the names in alphabetical order.
When it came to the last name, the news reader said S A…and I thought it could be me because those were my initials, but it was Durani. I missed out,” he said.
AuthorTopic: He could have been a 1971 hero... (Read 2474 times)
July 10, 2007, 01:23:31 AM