In 1982, Vengsarkar Was Deported From UAE After A Remark That Didn't Amuse The Customs Official

Dilip Vengsarkar remains one of India's best Test batsmen of all time. The man became our regular No. 3 and has played some exceptional knocks under pressure against the world's best attacks.

But on one occasion as an India player, he made headlines for the wrong reasons and not really any fault of his own. The man got deported from UAE in 1982. No, it is not a joke.

Here's what happened.

BCCI

It was April 1 of all days and the Indian team landed in Dubai for an exhibition match vs Pakistan. In the queue, there was a group of film stars.

The customs officers allowed the actors to step up. Back then, cricketers were not that famous and in UAE even less so and that too in an age when TV had not quite taken off.

At this Vengsarkar made an observation which under normal circumstances would have been laughed off. But the customs official was not impressed and he denied Vengsarkar admission to UAE on the grounds that the latter ¡°had made a nasty remark in Marathi¡±.

Getty

Sadly, nobody really stood behind Vengsarkar from the rest of the side as they may have been worried it would hamper their tour.

Vengsarkar headed home to Mumbai via Kochi. No doubt he was not impressed by what had happened.

It's been over 4 decades since the incident, but no doubt it still hurts.