NEW DELHI, June 13, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Vasant Raiji, the world’s
oldest first-class cricketer, died aged 100 in Mumbai on Saturday, his
son-in-law Sudarsahan Nanavata told Indian media.
Raiji, a right-handed batsman, played nine first-class matches
between 1938 and 1950, scoring 277 runs at an average of 23.08. He was
also a cricket historian.
Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar and former Australia captain
Steve Waugh visited Raiji at his Mumbai home on his 100th birthday on
January 26.
“His warmth and passion for playing and watching Cricket was
endearing,” Tendulkar wrote of his meeting with Raiji on Twitter
following the announcement of the death.
According to Indian sports statistician Mohandas Menon, New
Zealand’s Alan Burgess, who was 100 on May 1, is now the world’s
oldest living first-class cricketer.