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More congratulates Maharaj : Wants him to target 400 Test wickets

Kashmir Times. Dated: 6/24/2021 1:11:06 AM

BIPIN DANI
MUMBAI, June 23: Former India wicket-keeper and the selector Kiran More has sent a congratulatory message to Athmanand Maharaj, whose son Keshav Maharaj recently took hat-trick against the West Indies team (2nd Test, Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia).
One may wonder why More would congratulate the South African for this performance.
The fact is : More visited the Maharaj family in 1992 during India's tour of South Africa. Keshav was a 2-year-old kid then and More had predicted that he would play cricket.
"Athma, congratulations for (Keshav's) hat-trick. Test match wickets target should be 400", More's message reads.
Maharaj's current Test wicket-tally is 129 (in 136 Tests) and the slow left-arm orthodox spinner has a long way to go. However, the father says, "nothing stops him from playing as many Tests as possible".
"It (the hat-trick) has been an awesome achievement for him. He has worked hard during the Covid period, doing his own training. The Province is very proud of him. We as a family are awestruck by his achievement. It was one of the most tense moments in our lives watching that awesome spell with my wife. The telephone went ballistic, the pings from friends in India and Sri Lanka were not stopping. It has been a proud moment for all Indians in South Africa since he is of Indian origin".
For the Premier to acknowledge his achievement is very humbling, especially since he is a local boy from the province. He certainly has raised his profile as a cricketer. For him milestones are not significant if they don't help the team. That's what makes him happier", the father signed off.