KARACHI: Fakir Syed Aizazuddin, who played for Pakistan in three unofficial Tests against a Commonwealth XI touring Pakistan in 1963, passed away on Monday last after a protracted illness. He was 81.

As a right-handed opening batsman and a right-arm leg-spinner, he made his first-class debut for Cambridge University against Lancashire in 1957.

After completing his education, he regularly played in Pakistan’s domestic cricket for various teams such as Khairpur, Karachi and then later for Pakistan in unofficial Tests at home against a Commonwealth team scoring 72 in the first Test at Karachi and another score of over 60 in the following Test.

He was also a member of Hanif Mohammad led Pakistan touring team to England in 1967 where he played in nine side matches without any significant contribution except an innings of 74 against the Minor County team at Swindon.

From 1957 to 1971-72 seasons he featured in 43 first-class matches scoring 1,872, runs including three centuries at an average of 24.96 with 187 being his highest score. He also had 19 wickets to his credit with 4 for 36 as his best.

He understood the nuances of the game and was considered to be a fairly knowledgeable and a fair critic of the game. An occasional writer he also toured as manager of the Pakistan team to New Zealand in 2000-01.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2017