‘Perfect gentleman Ahmed deserved proper farewell’
Former teammate Asghar rues the way PCB handled deceased Pakistan captain’s retirement
Imtiaz Ahmed on May 5, 1954. PHOTO COURTESY: Getty Images
KARACHI:
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was wrong to not give a proper farewell to Imtiaz Ahmed, believes former teammate and colleague Saleem Asghar.
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Ahmed was Pakistan's oldest living Test cricketer before he recently passed away on December 31 in Lahore just five days short of his 89th birthday.
"He was my first captain in the two-day exhibition match against India at the Pindi Club Ground in 1961," Asghar told The Express Tribune. "I was 17 years old but he always encouraged me to go for the shot and always look for runs. He said never to leave the ball which really gave me confidence to play."
Asghar revealed how the genius of the former skipper helped dismiss him in a first-class match where he was leading Rawalpindi against Ahmed's service team. "Ahmed saw me coming out of the crease and as the new ball was drifting, he gave the ball to a spinner, Salahuddin, who got the new ball to turn away from me and Ahmed made no mistake stumping me," he recalled. "That was the day I learned a lot. He also gave me useful tips on how to lead the team — he was the perfect gentleman.”
Pakistan's oldest Test cricketer dies at 88
In his illustrious 10-year career, Ahmed played 41 Tests, scoring 2,079 runs with three centuries and 11 half-centuries at an average of 29.28. His highest Test score was 209 which he made against New Zealand at Lahore in October 1955. As a wicketkeeper, Imtiaz held 77 catches and made 16 stumpings.
Asghar also recalled a match in Peshawar in 1964 where Ahmed was bowled out early in the first innings by Fida Hussain of Rawalpindi. "After the innings break I went to Ahmed and asked him why he was unable to judge the ball. His reply was that he could not see the ball clearly. In the next innings, he took the glasses of [Ahmed’s teammate] Muhammad Sabir and thrashed each and every bowler on my team. He was simply outstanding and played just for the love of the game and nothing else.”
Asghar also talked about the time Ahmed decided to retire from international cricket. "In 1964, Ahmed was the captain of Pakistan’s Test side. At a training camp at the National Stadium of Karachi, Ahmed was called up by the team management on the final day of the camp and after a 30-minute meeting, Ahmed came out and just started packing his bag,” he said. “When I asked him what happened, he just said that he has decided to retire.”
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When probed further, Ahmed revealed that the management had asked him to appear for trials with the young Abdul Qadir and he took that as an insult. “That was the last time Ahmed was part of the national side,” he said. “That was the last day for him. He should have been given a proper farewell.”
Being work colleagues in the PCB as well, Asghar recalled how Ahmed helped him when he decided to take a stand against corrupt practices within the board. "He, during his whole playing career and as a PCB official, never said much,” said Asghar. “He never interfered in other people’s matters and carried on with his work quietly. He also supported me when I was going against the corruption being done in board and was being kicked out through a conspiracy. He was the perfect gentleman of the older generation and as far as I am concerned, the ideal man and player.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was wrong to not give a proper farewell to Imtiaz Ahmed, believes former teammate and colleague Saleem Asghar.
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Ahmed was Pakistan's oldest living Test cricketer before he recently passed away on December 31 in Lahore just five days short of his 89th birthday.
"He was my first captain in the two-day exhibition match against India at the Pindi Club Ground in 1961," Asghar told The Express Tribune. "I was 17 years old but he always encouraged me to go for the shot and always look for runs. He said never to leave the ball which really gave me confidence to play."
Asghar revealed how the genius of the former skipper helped dismiss him in a first-class match where he was leading Rawalpindi against Ahmed's service team. "Ahmed saw me coming out of the crease and as the new ball was drifting, he gave the ball to a spinner, Salahuddin, who got the new ball to turn away from me and Ahmed made no mistake stumping me," he recalled. "That was the day I learned a lot. He also gave me useful tips on how to lead the team — he was the perfect gentleman.”
Pakistan's oldest Test cricketer dies at 88
In his illustrious 10-year career, Ahmed played 41 Tests, scoring 2,079 runs with three centuries and 11 half-centuries at an average of 29.28. His highest Test score was 209 which he made against New Zealand at Lahore in October 1955. As a wicketkeeper, Imtiaz held 77 catches and made 16 stumpings.
Asghar also recalled a match in Peshawar in 1964 where Ahmed was bowled out early in the first innings by Fida Hussain of Rawalpindi. "After the innings break I went to Ahmed and asked him why he was unable to judge the ball. His reply was that he could not see the ball clearly. In the next innings, he took the glasses of [Ahmed’s teammate] Muhammad Sabir and thrashed each and every bowler on my team. He was simply outstanding and played just for the love of the game and nothing else.”
Asghar also talked about the time Ahmed decided to retire from international cricket. "In 1964, Ahmed was the captain of Pakistan’s Test side. At a training camp at the National Stadium of Karachi, Ahmed was called up by the team management on the final day of the camp and after a 30-minute meeting, Ahmed came out and just started packing his bag,” he said. “When I asked him what happened, he just said that he has decided to retire.”
Hanif Muhammad passes away at 81
When probed further, Ahmed revealed that the management had asked him to appear for trials with the young Abdul Qadir and he took that as an insult. “That was the last time Ahmed was part of the national side,” he said. “That was the last day for him. He should have been given a proper farewell.”
Being work colleagues in the PCB as well, Asghar recalled how Ahmed helped him when he decided to take a stand against corrupt practices within the board. "He, during his whole playing career and as a PCB official, never said much,” said Asghar. “He never interfered in other people’s matters and carried on with his work quietly. He also supported me when I was going against the corruption being done in board and was being kicked out through a conspiracy. He was the perfect gentleman of the older generation and as far as I am concerned, the ideal man and player.”