As an ardent fan of cricket during my school and college days, I was a frequent visitor to the Bagh-e-Jinnah ground in Lahore. That was the ground in the 1950s where all the cricket leagues and Test matches were played. It is fascinating to know that a cricket museum has been established in the historic pavilion of Bagh-e-Jinnah (Caught behind by Qamar Ahmed, May 8).

Being a cricket enthusiast, I was keen to get closer to the Test cricketers and take their autograph on a book purchased in 1957. I would keep myself updated about international cricket teams’ visits to Lahore by regularly reading the sports page of the daily Pakistan Times. With my autograph book in hand, I would enter the touring cricketers’ buses, hotel lobbies, venues of net practice and even the pavilion of Bagh-e-Jinnah. Since there were no security risks to the cricketers then, I would not be stopped by anyone from fulfilling my motive.

Before shifting the venue to the properly built Gaddafi Stadium, the last Test match between West Indies and Pakistan was played at the Bagh-e-Jinnah ground in March, 1959. As there was no permanent seating arrangement for the spectators, the organisers would install wooden planks all around the ground in a circle, which would be dismantled after the match. The ground would be full to capacity, when the match was played. It was a carnival like atmosphere in which besides enjoying the match proceedings, one would also get amused by remarks of spectators about the cricketers’ performance and their interaction with players fielding near the boundary line.

In the match with West Indies, which I was also watching, their fast bowler Wesley Hall was really frightening for the batsmen. Helmets and face guards had not been introduced for the cricketers then. A rising delivery from Hall struck opening batsman Ijaz Butt on his nose and he was immediately taken out from the pitch on a stretcher. Everyone was shocked and there was an atmosphere of gloom in the ground. Later, in the same innings Ijaz was sent back to bat with a bandaged nose amid loud cheers from the spectators, as Pakistan’s batting was in dire straits, and he carried the bat at 47 runs.

The writer shares some cherished memories after reading about the Lahore Gymkhana Cricket Club Museum located in Bagh-e-Jinnah

Mushtaq Mohammad made his Test debut in this match, becoming the youngest person, at 15 years and 124 days, to play Test cricket at the time. When he came to bat, spectators started begging Hall to have mercy on the young boy. Mushtaq scored 14 runs in the first innings and was adjudged LBW to Hall. The West Indian middle-order batsman Joe Solomon was not getting out. Being worried about the situation, one of the spectators shouted at Pakistan’s fast bowler Mahmood Hussain in Punjabi, “Mooday gunjay ura de chaloman nu.” (Baldy Mahmood get Solomon clean bowled). Ironically it was Mahmood Hussain, who took Solomon’s wicket at 56. Pakistan lost this match by an innings and 156 runs.

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) of England came to Pakistan in 1961-62, to play a two Test series. They were led by Ted Dexter, who was an aggressive middle-order batsman of ferocious power and a right-arm medium pace bowler. The English team was having net practice at the Bagh-e-Jinnah ground, which I was also watching. A powerful hit from Dexter struck on the forehead of one of the persons standing around the nets. He was in severe pain but someone said to him, “You will remember for the rest of your life that you were struck by a hit from Dexter.”

In the early 1960s, India’s Test opening batsman and bowler, M.L. Jaisimha visited Lahore. He was watching a match from the pavilion at Bagh-e-Jinnah, when I requested him for his autograph. He appeared to be suffering from flu and would take out a handkerchief from his pant pocket and rub his nose in style. He had played a total of 39 Test matches for India with a batting average of 30.68. Jaisimha died of lung cancer in 1999 at the age of 60. Partab Ramchand, a veteran Indian sports journalist had commented about Jaisimha, “His slim figure, the boyish good looks, the inimitable gait, the trademark silk shirt and scarf, the sleeves buttoned at the wrist and the collar turned up — all these attracted immediate attention.”

Lala Amarnath was the first Indian cricketer to score a Test century for his team, which he achieved on his debut. He was also independent India’s first Test captain, leading the team on a tour of Australia in 1947-48. The government of India had awarded him the civilian honour of Padma Bhushan in 1991. Lala had lived in Lahore before Partition and loved the city tremendously. Visiting Lahore thereafter would make him nostalgic. In 1966, he was watching a cricket match between India and Pakistan XI at the famous University Ground in Lahore, when I approached him for his autograph. Lala was all praise for Pakistan’s Majid Khan, who was at the crease then. He said, “I will only be convinced of my team’s caliber, if they get him out.” (Translated from Punjabi).

The curator has paid befitting tribute to the legendary photographer of the daily Pakistan Times, F.E. Choudhry by displaying the historic lens of his camera in the museum. Choudhry Sahib was loved by people, who would throng the sports events especially cricket. He was everywhere moving around in Lahore on his motorcycle along with his inseparable camera. I have yet to see a more energetic and enthusiastic person than Choudhry Sahib as besides being his profession, photography was also his passion.

The moment he would enter a place to capture some event, the whole atmosphere would be electrified with his presence. Those present would start setting their hair right and sit straight in order to have their better image in the photograph, which would surely be published in the Pakistan Times, the next day. In the winter of 1965, I was watching the annual sports events of my college (Government College, Lahore) at the University Ground, when Choudhry Sahib came to take a picture of the athlete throwing the shot-put. I immediately moved towards the front of his camera and the next day saw my picture in the Pakistan Times, in my college blazer. This could be through the lens in display at the museum.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine May 22nd, 2016