KARACHI: Waqar Hasan, who was the last surviving member of the Pakistan side which played in the country’s inaugural Test against India in October 1952, died here on Monday at the age of 87.

Not keeping well for the past few years and being confined to bed, Waqar who was a stylish right-handed batsman during his playing days, passed away peacefully at his home in Hill Park locality of the PECHS early in the morning, according to his family.

A noted businessman, the late Waqar owned a leading food company which is being currently run by his only son Abrar.

Waqar, who is also survived by his wife Jamila Razzaq, a well known filmstar of yesteryear, and two daughters, was widely respected in the cricketing circles throughout his life for his cultured, sophisticated personality after he quit playing the game at the first-class level in 1965-66 where he represented Karachi, Lahore and PIA.

Waqar had the distinction of playing alongside icons of Pakistan cricket such as Hanif Mohammad, Fazal Mahmood, Imtiaz Ahmed and Khan Mohammad under the captaincy of Abdul Hafeez Kardar during his Test career.

Born in the Indian city of Amritsar on Sept 12, 1932, Waqar made his first-class debut at the tender age of 17 and went to play in 99 matches from 1949 until 1966 in the format — a tally which includes 21 Tests between 1952 and November 1959 — while scoring 4,841 runs at an average of 35.64 with the help of eight centuries and 27 half-centuries with a highest score of 201 not out for the L.W. Cannon’s XI against the Hasan Mahmood’s XI at the famous KGA Ground in Karachi in October 1953.

At the Test match level, Waqar made just one century — 189 against New Zealand at Lahore in 1955-56 — besides scoring six half-centuries.

Waqar’s younger brother Pervez Sajjad also represented Pakistan in 19 Tests between 1964 and 1973. A slow left-armer, Pervez, who is now 77, claimed 59 wickets in the highest form of cricket.

Waqar later served as the chairman of PCB national selection committee.

Former Pakistan opener Sadiq Mohammad described Waqar as a thorough gentleman and great philanthropist who always stood by the downtrodden.

“He was a great human-being who always cared for others. To me he was one of the two last living legends of Pakistan cricket. The other is my eldest brother Wazir [who at 90 is the oldest living Pakistan Test player],” the 75-year-old Sadiq told Dawn. “Waqar was a very stylish and eye-pleasing batsman. I used to simply love him bat all day because it was like watching an artist at work. Mind you in those days batting was never easy because of the back-foot no-ball ruling.

“Moreover, money was never an issue for him later in his life because he used to be the first to come forward and sponsored many sporting events such as athletics, table tennis and badminton. My heartfelt condolences are with his family.”

Ex-Pakistan captain and legendary wicket-keeper Wasim Bari reminisced Waqar’s role in launching his career.

“Waqar was a great influence on my career since he was the captain when I made my first-class debut [in 1964-65]. In fact, during the early days, Waqar used to advise that ‘One should look after yourself if you want to make a name in cricket’. Those words echoed in my ears whenever I thought of Waqar,” Wasim, 71, said while talking to Dawn.

“The best thing about this great man was he always encouraged the youngsters and supported them to the hilt and for me he was the biggest influence in the development of me as a cricketer. He was the real pioneer of Pakistan cricket because where we stand now is all due to people him who sowed the seeds of success in the 1950s. He will be great missed.”

Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), deeply condoled Waqar Hasan’s death. “He was the founder member of PVCA and a real gem of a person who rendered tremendous services for Pakistan cricket. I am very sad at the news of his demise and will miss him a lot,” said Fawad.

Meanwhile, Waqar’s Namaz-i-Janaza will take place on Tuesday after Zuhr prayers at Masjid-e-Saheem (Khayaban-e-Rahat, DHA Phase VI), followed by burial at the DHA Phase VIII Graveyard, while Soyem will be held on Wednesday between Asr and Maghrib at Masjid-e-Saheem for men and for ladies at 112, Ahmed Barrister Road, Rohail Khand Society (PECHS).

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2020