Wing Commander Shahid Ali Khan Durrani was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in June 1958 and is on the strength of Services Sports Control Board since April 1978.

Prior to joining this Board, he was the Commanding Officer of the newly raised Air Force School of Physical Fitness, Sambre. Himself a hockey player and a sportsman of repute, he with his single-minded devotion to duty and long hours of hard work, organized the unit, drew up the syllabi for various subjects wrote précis, established an efficient gymnasium and other infrastructure for games and sports activities. It goes to the credit of this officer that within the short period of two years the unit which had just been started was judged the best administered unit in the Training Command.

Because of his outstanding sportsmanship and his deep knowledge of the services sportsmen as well as games, the Chiefs of Staff Committee appointed Wing Commander Durrani as the Chief-de-Mission for the Services contingent for the tour of Malaysia and Singapore during April/May 79. Under his able leadership, the contingent consisting of 36 sportsmen not only won many hockey and football matches also far exceeded the expectations of Ministry of External Affairs, Govt of India, in establishing friendly relations with the Armed Forces of these countries. His performance during this tour won high praise from our High Commissioners in Malaysia and Singapore as well as the Service Attaches in these countries.

In August 1980, in a special meeting of the General Body, the Board of Cricket Control in India selected Wg Cdr Durrani as the Manager of the Indian Cricket team for their tour to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. This was the first time ever that a serving Armed Forces Officer was selected as a Manager the Cricket team going on a tour abroad. The honour is all the more significant as this was the first time that a non-test cricketer was chosen as a Manager of an Indian Cricket Team.

His deft and adroit handling of some very delicate and explosive situations that had arisen, and relaxed and genial behaviour was highly commended by our High Commissioners and the Indian and foreign press.

Wing Commander Durrani has all along displayed absolute loyalty, outstanding devotion to duty and unflagging zeal in tasks entrusted to him. His capacity for sustained hard work well beyond the call of duty is a shining example for others to emulate. For distinguished service of high ordered, the Rashtrapati is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Wing Commander Shahid Ali Khan Durrani.