LAHORE: Legendary wrist-spinner Abdul Qadir died after a massive heart attack here on Friday night — nine days before his 64th birthday. Abdul Qadir was brought to Lahore’s Institute of Cardiology in critical condition, but doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

He was last seen in public on Aug 28 at a function hosted by the Pakistan Cricket Board in honour of umpire Aleem Dar for equalling Steve Bucknor’s record for having officiated in the highest number of matches.

He was looking quite fit and fresh and delivered a long speech in praise of Aleem Dar.

Abdul Qadir brought the art of right-arm leg spin back to life after it had gone out of fashion during the early eighties. He kept the torch alight for a generation of leg spinners to come, among them a man no less than Australia’s Shane Warne, who himself went on to become a leg-spin wizard. He was a great fan of Abdul Qadir. Warne took time out to visit him at his home in Lahore after being advised to do so by his captain Steve Waugh during their tour of Pakistan in 1998-99.

Imran Tahir, a cricketer of Pakistan origin who played for South Africa, specially flew to Lahore a couple of years ago to learn the finer points of leg spin bowling from the maestro.

Abdul Qadir made his Test debut in 1977 against England at Lahore and retired from international cricket in 1993.

He had a peculiar run-up, bounding in to the crease and making a jump before releasing the ball. The variety of his deliveries was phenomenal: there was the orthodox leg-break, the top spinner, googly and the flipper. His vociferous appeals endeared him to spectators, but sometimes got him into trouble with umpires.

Skipper Imran Khan used to make no secret of his liking for Abdul Qadir. After he was named captain for the 1982 England tour, Imran showed his faith and expectations by describing the leg spinner as “our trump card”.

Qadir repaid Imran’s trust as his six scalps in the second Test at Lord’s played a major role in what was then his country’s only second victory on English soil.

The iconic bowler played 67 Tests for Pakistan from 1977 to 1990. He snared 204 wickets at an average of 32.80.

His memorable Test series was against England in Pakistan in 1987-88. He dismissed nine batsmen for a measly 56 runs in the first innings of the first Test at Lahore and returned match figures of 13 for 101. Altogether he took 30 wickets in the three-match series.

Qadir made his one-day debut at the 1983 World Cup in England and took no time in silencing his detractors who based their opposition to his selection on an age-old belief that leg spinners are generous in giving away runs.

He bagged 132 wickets in 104 one-day games at an average of 26.16.

After retirement from international cricket, Abdul Qadir turned into an uncompromising critic of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

He joined the PCB as chief selector in 2009 when Ijaz Butt was at the helm. He selected the Pakistan team for the T20 World Cup that year, but quit during the mega event after Pakistan made an inauspicious start, even though they went on to lift the trophy.

Qadir wanted at least one of his three sons to represent Pakistan, but Usman, Salman and Imran could not progress beyond first-class cricket.

Condolences

President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, PCB chief Ehsan Mani, batting legend Javed Miandad and former wicketkeeper Wasim Bari offered condolences to Abdul Qadir’s family over his death.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2019