LAHORE: Imtiaz Ahmed, a former Test captain and pioneering member of Pakistan cricket, died after protracted illness here on Saturday. He was 88. He was laid to rest at a local graveyard in the afternoon.

Imtiaz was hospitalised on Friday night for treatment of a persistent chest infection and breathed his last on Saturday morning. He is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.

A brilliant wicketkeeper-batsman, Imtiaz was part of the very first Test squad that played the country’s inaugural Test against India in 1952 at Delhi.

Born in Lahore in 1928, Imtiaz studied at the city’s Islamia College, Civil Lines and later served the Pakistan Air Force as wing commander.

In his illustrious 10-year career, Imtiaz played 41 Test matches, scoring 2,079 runs with three centuries and 11 half-centuries at an average of 29.28. His highest Test score was 209 which he made against New Zealand at Lahore in October 1955. As wicket-keeper, Imtiaz held 77 catches and made 16 stumpings.

Imtiaz himself considered his 91-run knock against the West Indies in the 1958 Bridgetown Test under very tough circumstances as his best innings. In an interview later in his career, Imtiaz said that he was wrongly given lbw in that Bridgetown Test which became famous for Little Master Hanif Mohammad’s epic 337.

Captain Abdul Hafeez Kardar highly praised that knock of Imtiaz who faced tearaway West Indian pacers with great authority in a brilliant partnership with Hanif.

Right-handed Imtiaz featured in 180 first-class games amassing 10,391 runs, averaging 37.37. After beginning his first-class career in 1944 and playing for several teams of united India before migrating to Pakistan.

He ended his Test career prolifically, smashing 49 and 98 against England in 1962 at The Oval where Pakistan lost the game by 10 wickets.

Imtiaz also remained a selector in the PCB on several occasions, including chief selector, besides serving the Board in different jobs with dignity and grace.

Along with his friend and teammate Fazal Mahmood, Imtiaz selected the Punjab University teams for several years, both showing their great attachment with grassroot level cricket.

While many cricketers claim to be the pioneers of reverse swing bowling, Imtiaz believed the credit should have been given to Khan Mohammad, another legendary Pakistan fast bowler of Imtiaz’s era, for the art.

His funeral on Saturday was attended by many former cricketers including Salahuddin Sallu, Shafqat Rana, Farooq Hameed and Zakir Khan.

Later, talking to Dawn, Salahuddin, Shafqat and ex-Test cricketer Mohammad Ilyas, who had worked with Imtiaz in different capacities, deeply condoled the sad demise of the former Pakistan captain and paid lofty tributes to him.

“He was a brave batsman and master of hook, pull and cut shots,” Salahuddin remarked. “I worked as a member of the national selection committee under Imtiaz in 1980 and found him to be a thorough gentleman and professional in his job. He was also fond of Urdu poetry.”

Ilyas and Shafqat said they played under Imtiaz’s captaincy and always enjoyed his company. “Imtiaz was as a great human being ashe was a cricketer and always shared interesting poetry and stories,” recalled Ilyas. “It is a fact that no one can match him when it comes to hooking and pulling since he was a very brave player.”

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan and executive committee chairman Najam Sethi and COO Subhan Ahmed also condoled the death of Imtiaz and prayed to Almighty for the departed soul. “Imtiaz had a great contribution in promoting Pakistan cricket which will forever be remembered,” Shaharyar said.

Published in Dawn January 1st, 2017