Wasim Jaffer becomes first Indian to play 150 Ranji matches
Vijayawada, Dec 9: Veteran opener Wasim Jaffer on Monday became the first player in Indian cricket to feature in 150 Ranji matches.
The 41-year-old from Maharashtra, who has been an important part of the title-winning Vidarbha team in the last two years, achieved the rare distinction during their Group A opener against Andhra Pradesh here.
The former India opener is now just 853 runs away from completing 20,000 runs in first class cricket.
Jaffer is followed by Madhya Pradesh batsman Devendra Bundela (145 matches) and Amol Muzumdar (136 matches), who have played for Mumbai and Assam.
Overall, Jaffer has played 253 first-class games, scoring 19,147 runs at an average of 51.19. He has scored 57 hundreds and 88 fifties with 314 being his highest score.
The Mumbaikar has represented India in 31 Tests between 2000 and 2008, scoring 1944 runs which included five hundreds and 11 fifties.
He also has a double hundred to his name a highest score of 212 against West Indies in 2006 at St John's. He also played two ODIs for India.
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All INDIA bloc candidates to fight UP bypolls on 'cycle' symbol
Lucknow (PTI): INDIA bloc candidates will contest all nine seats in the upcoming bypolls on his party's election symbol 'cycle', Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav announced on Wednesday.
He said the alliance's decision was not informed by any seat-sharing math but its pursuit of victory.
"Congress and Samajwadi Party are united and stand shoulder to shoulder for a big victory. India bloc is going to write a new chapter of victory in this by-election," Yadav said in a post on X.
"With this unprecedented cooperation and support, every worker of 'INDIA bloc' on all 9 assembly seats is filled with new energy with the resolve to win," he added.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said that the coming election will be fought for the protection of the country's Constitution, peace, and the honour of "Pichchde (backwards), Dalit and Alpsankhyak (Minorities)."
Bypolls will be held on November 13 on nine seats-- Katehari (Ambedkar Nagar), Karhal (Mainpuri), Meerapur (Muzaffarnagar), Ghaziabad, Majhawan (Mirzapur), Sishamau (Kanpur city), Khair (Aligarh), Phulpur (Prayagraj), and Kundarki (Moradabad).
Eight of these seats fell vacant after their MLAs were elected as MPs in the Lok Sabha, while a bypoll is being held on the Sisamau seat due to the disqualification of SP MLA Irfan Solanki, who was convicted in a criminal case.
The Congress had originally demanded five of 10 assembly seats (including Milkipur).
The SP, however, last week said the Congress had agreed to contest on two seats, Ghaziabad and Khair (Aligarh), leaving the rest to the SP.
The Election Commission has announced a by-election on nine seats, leaving out Milkipur (Ayodhya).
The last date for filing nominations is October 25.
The SP has already declared its candidates from Karhal, Sisamau, Phulpur, Milkipur, Katehari, Majahawan and Meerapur.
Counting of votes will take place on November 23.
