KARACHI: Anwar Elahi who played in the inaugural match of the first ever Quaid-i-Azam Trophy fixture for Sindh against Bahawalpur at the Dring Stadium under the captaincy of Shah Mardan Shah, the Pir of Pagara in 1953-54, died in Karachi of pneumonia last month. He was 79.

Though he suffered from Parkinson’s during the last few years, Anwar lived an active life as a successful businessman till his death.

A right-arm leg-spin bowler, a right-handed batsman and a brilliant fielder, he played for Combined Schools XI against India at Karachi Gymkhana in 1954-55, against New Zealand at the National Stadium Karachi for the Chief Commissioner’s XI in 1955-56 and also against the MCC ‘A’ team for Karachi in 1956-57, taking the wicket of Brain Close.

His elder brother, all-rounder Ikram Elahi, toured England with the 1954 Pakistan team and also to the West Indies on the 1957-58 tour under Hafeez Kardar before playing for Haslingden in Lancashire League where he still lives.

In a career span of nearly 17 years from — 1953-54 to 1969-70 — Anwar played for Sindh, Karachi and PWD in 21 first-class matches taking 28 wickets at an average of 21.64 with 4 for 64 as his best on his debut match against Bahawalpur. He also made 215 runs batting late in the order with 45 as his best for Karachi Greens against Karachi Whites in 1956-57.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2016