KARACHI, Nov 6: Veteran cricket official and former first-class cricketer Razaullah Khan died after a protracted illness here on Monday night. He was 75.

He left behind a widow, an adopted son Mohsin Raza Khan, who works as a sports reporter at a private news channel.

As a wicket-keeper/batsman, Razaullah featured in 24 first-class games, scoring 575 runs with a highest of 76, made 41 dismissals ( 29 catches and 12 stumpings) as keeper while representing Hyderabad, Khairpur and Karachi teams between 1957 and 1973.

Razaullah was known in cricketing circles for his critical and vocal approach and his closeness to several chairmen of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) including Khalid Mahmood, Gen (retd) Tauqir Zia, and Ijaz Butt was an open secret. He was also very close to former Federal Sports Minister Pir Aftab Hussain Jilani.

He also remained very close to former chief selectors Haseeb Ahsan, Waqar Hasan and ex-sports head of UBL, Irfan Mirza.

He remained a PCB council member from Hyderabad and served the Hyderabad Divisional Cricket Association as its president. He was also secretary of the defunct Sindh Cricket Association.

Being a senior member of the council, he always raised his voice against the policies of the PCB bosses.

Razaullah also served as assistant manager and manager of National Stadium and was a PCB coordinator for cricket grounds in Sindh.

He also formed the MCB sports department under its president Hussain Lawai and introduced players like former Pakistan captains Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi.

From the platform of Brotherhood Sports Society of Pakistan, Razaullah honoured legendary sporting figures and administrators like late Air Marshal (retd) Nur Khan, six-time world squash champion Jahangir Khan and other sporting and cricket figures.—APP