NARIMAN CONTRACTOR-CRICKETER

Nariman Jamshedji "Nari" Contractor(born 7 March 1934, Godhra, Gujarat) is a former cricket player, who was a left-handed opening batsman. His professional career ended after a serious injury.===

Contractor began his first-class career, playing for the Gujarat.

Contractor led India to a series win against England in 1961–62 and captained the side to Caribbean the same season. After two Tests, Indian team traveled to Barbados. There, in a tour match against Barbados at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, in March 1962, he was on 2 not out while opening the batting with Dilip Sardesai during his side's first innings,^[2] when his attention was for a moment distracted as he faced Charlie Griffith in the fourth ball of the second over. He saw somebody open a window in the pavilion, and consequently was unable to concentrate on the ball following its delivery by Griffith, seeing the ball "just inches away before it hit" him.^[3] Contractor took a blow at the back of his skull^[4] fracturing it. A blood clot had developed inside his skull and pressing against the brain paralyzing him from the waist down. Two surgeries were performed to remove the clot. Requiring blood transfusion for the purpose, the West Indies captain Frank Worrell donated blood,^[5] alongside Contractor's teammates Chandu Borde, Bapu Nadkarni and Polly Umrigar.^[6] Contractor's life was saved but his international career was abruptly ended as a result. Mansoor Ali Khan of Pataudi took over the captaincy from the third test. In a recent interview, Contractor mentioned as his only regret that he wanted play just one Test after the injury, but people did not want him to.

At the time Contractor was seriously injured, cricket batsmen did not wear helmets. They do now.

During his playing days, Contractor was considered a glamour boy of Indian cricket.