July 22, 2003	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 21, 1424

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KARACHI, July 21: Shujauddin, one of the first Test umpires of Pakistan, died of cardiac failure here on Monday morning.

The 84-year-old was later laid to rest at North Karachi graveyard.

Shujauddin stood in 22 Tests during a distinguished umpiring career when there was no concept of modern day technology which now serves as a great source of help to umpires of this era.

A quiet humble man, he commanded utmost respect from all players both on and off the field.

Shujauddin, who was a bachelor all his life, made his debut as Test umpire when he stood in the second game of the inaugural series on Pakistan soil, against India at Bahawalpur in a match highlighted by legendary Hanif Mohammad’s first of 12 Test centuries.

He was popularly known as Pakistan’s Frank Chester, an umpiring figure from England who was a legend in his own right during a 48-Test career, then a world record, which ended in 1955.

Shujauddin, who was born at Delhi on May 10, 1919, had the honour of officiating in some of the memorable Tests including Javed Miandad’s dream debut against New Zealand at Lahore when he marked his Test entry with 163 in October 1976.

The final Tests in Shujauddin’s career were the two unforgettable encounters against India at Lahore and Karachi, respectively in 1978-79. Pakistan won both of them by identical margins of eight wickets after a draw appeared to be the most likely conclusion.

He stood in a solitary One-day International, at Quetta, prior to the first Test series in almost 18 years between Pakistan and India.

Meanwhile, Soyem of late Shujauddin will be held on Tuesday between Zuhr and Asr at his residence 905/8, Azizabad in the Federal ‘B’ Area.