KARACHI: Wazir Mohammad, Pakistan’s oldest living Test cricketer and the eldest of the famous Mohammad brothers family, passed away in Birmingham on Monday at the age of 95.

Wazir, whose younger brothers Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq Mohammad would go on to represent Pakistan in the game’s longest format, played 20 Tests for the country and was the oldest surviving member of the Pakistan squad that first played a Test series in 1952. Hanif passed away in 2016.

Sadiq reminisced his earliest cricketing memory with Wazir, of playing in the compound of a temple at Karachi’s Haji Camp in the country’s early days after gaining independence, and the profound impact he had on him.

The family had migrated to Karachi from Junagadh in India and all five brothers — including Raees, who never went on to feature for Pakistan in Tests — were right-handed batters and each highly talented. However, Wazir wanted one of them to be a left-hander.

“One fine day he told me ‘we don’t have a left-hander in our family, why don’t you become one?’,” Sadiq told Dawn on Mondayabout his brother Wazir. “And then I did ... I used to get five chances while others got only one. ‘Bat left-handed always’ he would say.”

That was the level of respect Wazir demanded as not only a brother, but later on in his short, but celebrated cricket career. His 801 runs at a meagre average of 27.62 in Tests is a classic case of statistics being untruthful with his 40.40 in 160 First Class matches fighting his case.

One of the standout achievements of Wazir’s career, in fact, remain his four-hour-long unbeaten knock of 42 in the 1954 Oval Test, which became Pakistan’s maiden win in England. His century partnership with the country’s first Test captain Abdul Hafeez Kardar in 1956-57 got Pakistan their first win against Australia. Wazir was also the national side’s only century-maker in the 1957-58 win against the West Indies, Pakistan’s maiden against the then great side.

“He scored that against a star-studded West Indies bowling attack featuring Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith,” Sadiq recalled. “He was such a strong personality and he had waited for the opportunity to save Pakistan. He was a very organised cricketer.”

Wazir’s immense knowledge of the laws of the game also made him a trusted associate for Kardar. “Wazir bhai had a big impact [on Pakistan cricket] as he knew all laws of the game,” he said. “He guided Kardar on numerous occasions when the captain had any confusion about the rules.”

One of those moments came during the Kingston Test of 1957-58, when Garry Sobers made the record score of 365, the crowd stormed the ground. A patch of the pitch was damaged to the extent that a crater developed. The West Indian declaration arrived at the same time, meaning Pakistan had an awkward 90 minutes to bat that day.

Wazir told Kardar to tell the umpires that as per the laws of the game the wicket was not suitable for batting since the wear and tear was not due to natural reasons. The umpires initially showed reluctance to accept Pakistan’s viewpoint, but eventually, after consulting the rule book, they agreed.

Wazir also served an advisor to the Pakistan Cricket Board after his retirement before moving to the United Kingdom. His cricketing aptitude and grip over the game’s laws may have been an effect of his disciplined lifestyle.

“He was a very disciplined person; from his childhood till he fell ill recently, he used to sleep as early as nine in the night,” Sadiq concluded.

Since the death of Israr Ali in 2016, Wazir had been Pakistan’s oldest living Test cricketer and was the third-oldest in the world after Neil Harvey and Trevor McMahon.

“The PCB is deeply saddened by the passing of former Pakistan Test batter Wazir Mohammad,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement. “One of the four Mohammad brothers to represent Pakistan in Test cricket, he featured in 20 matches for his country from 1952 to 1959. The PCB extends its heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi added that Wazir’s “services to cricket will always be remembered”.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2025