Arzan Nagwaswalla (Photo courtesy - GCA s Twitter handle)
MUMBAI: Young Gujarat left-arm pacer Arzan Nagwaswalla, who has been picked up as a stand-by player in the Indian team for the World Test Championship final and away series against England, is the only active Parsi cricketer currently plying his trade in the domestic circuit and stands out for his pace.
Former Gujarat right-arm pacer and coach Hitesh Majumdar told PTI on Friday that Nagwaswalla can touch speed upto 140 kmph. He represents the Valsad District Cricket Association, which is affiliated to the Gujarat Cricket Association. He did well in Under-19, Under-23 and made his debut in the Ranji Trophy three years ago. He did very good as he touched around 140 (kmph). He had potential and then he improved by playing. Now, since the last two years he has taken 23 and 40 odd wickets in two seasons, an elated Majumdar said after the 23-year-old Surat-born speedster was drafted into the Indian team as a standby.
Arzan Nagwaswalla, a Parsi in Team India after 28 years
Farokh Engineer played his final Test for India in 1975 while Diana Edulji s last game in the women s team came in July 1993.
Arzan Nagwaswalla in action for Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy. - VIJAY SONEJI 07 May, 2021 19:45 IST
Arzan Nagwaswalla was not even born when Farokh Engineer - the last Parsi cricketer to have featured in the India men’s team - played his final Test for the country in 1975.
But the 23-year-old left-arm medium pacer from Gujarat created history on Friday when he was named as a standby for India’s trip to the United Kingdom - for the World Test Championship final and the Test series against England.