Cricketing legend Geoffrey Boycott was bowled over by award-winning Shipley chef Mohammed Aslam's top dishes.

The Asian buffet was prepared at the Aagrah Group's headquarters in Shipley before being cooked by Mr Aslam at the former Yorkshire and England batsman's converted farmhouse near Barnsley where it also curried favour with Indian cricket stars.

Among the squad were skipper Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar who yesterday both scored centuries against England at Headingley.

Mr Boycott called in Mr Aslam, a former International Indian Chef of the Year winner who originally comes from Pakistan, to cook after deciding to host a lunch-time party for the Indians, who are playing England at Headingley.

And within hours of tucking into the spread the Indian players, who have been staying at Baildon's Marriott Hollins Hall Hotel and Country Club, had chalked up an impressive 236 for two on the first day of the Test.

Mr Aslam, the company's managing director and executive chef; his outdoor catering chef, Infrad Hussain, and catering co-ordinator Iqbal Shah put on the buffet after Mr Boycott's partner Rachel Swinglehurst rang out of the blue to request their services.

Speaking from the Test match at Headingley, Mr Boycott told the Telegraph & Argus: "I asked Mr Aslam to do it as I'd heard he was the best and wanted the very best for the Indian cricket team.

"The food was excellent and the players loved it.''

Mr Aslam, 49, of Heaton, a former bus conductor who used to play cricket for the Bradford City Transport team, said: "We do outdoor catering anyway so I just said 'yes we can do that' but I'm a big cricket fan and have a lot of respect for Geoffrey Boycott so it was a huge honour to be asked.

"He and his family were really friendly - they made us feel very welcome and he was full of life and a great host.

"He said the food was fantastic. He said he was very happy with what we did and even gave me a signed copy of his autobiography.''

Cricket fan Mr Aslam, whose company was founded in Shipley by his brother Mohammed Sabir in 1977 and now has eight restaurants, added: "The Indian players, including Ganguly and Tendulkar, were really digging in.

"I support Pakistan but the rivalry's only on the cricket pitch and we were delighted to cook for them.''