Pakistan's former Test Captain Imtiaz Ahmed passes away at 88

[jeetu]

Imtiaz Ahmed, Pakistan’s former test wicketkeeper-batsman who became a chief selector after his playing career, has died. He was 88.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said Ahmed, Pakistan’s oldest living test cricketer, died Saturday in Lahore following a chest infection.

Ahmed played 41 tests from 1952-62, scoring 2,079 runs at an average of 29 and taking 77 catches. He hit three centuries, including a career-best 209 against New Zealand at Lahore in 1955, three years after touring India with Pakistan’s first official test side.

“This is a sad day for Pakistan cricket,” PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said in a statement.

“Losing another legend after Hanif Mohammad in the same year is a great loss to Pakistan’s cricket. The entire cricketing fraternity, in this country, is in sorrow over the sad demise of Imtiaz Ahmed. He was a great gentleman and will be missed.”

Ahmed notably took seven catches off the pace bowling of Fazal Mehmood’s bowling to help Pakistan beat England at the Oval in 1954.
He served as chief selector from 1976-78 and was a consultant for the PCB’s women’s cricket activities from 2005-08.

http://indianexpress.com/article/sp...oldest-surviving-test-cricketer-dies-4453331/

 

[KB]

An influential early cricketer. A case could be made for Fazal Mahmood, Kardar, Waqar Hasan and Imitiaz being the four key players in that decade of 1950s. Only Waqar Hasan remains of those four. Imtiaz was said to be reliable with the keeping gloves and an attacking batsman. One of the reasons Pakistan cricket had relative success in the 1950s was a competitive college system. Imitiaz was a product of Islamia college and this college provided a number of Pakistan's early Test cricketers - in the famous 1954 Oval triumph, 6 players were educated at Islamia.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raajioon.

 

[Markhor]

One of our great wicketkeeper batsmen. RIP.

 

[Asim2Good]

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raajioon

 

[jeetu]

Chairman PCB Shaharyar M. Khan, Chairman Executive Committee Mr. Najam Sethi and Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmad have offered their heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of Imtiaz Ahmed, former Test wicket-keeper batsman.

“This is a sad day for Pakistan cricket. Losing another legend after Hanif Mohammad in the same year is a great loss to Pakistan’s cricket. The entire cricketing fraternity, in this country, is in sorrow over the sad demise of Imtiaz Ahmed. He was a great gentleman and will be missed”, said the PCB Chairman.

Imtiaz was a veteran of 41 Tests who was also a part of the famous Oval Test match victory against England in 1954, where he took seven catches off Fazal Mahmood’s bowling. He opened the innings with Late Hanif Mohammad against West Indies in Bridgetown in 1957-58 and scored valuable 91 which provided the team the platform to draw the Test match. He remained consultant of Pakistan Women’s wing from 2005 to 2008 and also worked as an advisor at the National Cricket Academy, Lahore.

“This is very sad news. Imtiaz was one of the finest wicket-keeper batsmen the country had ever produced and was a true ambassador of the game. He was truly a legend of the game in Pakistan”, said Chairman Executive Committee, Najam Sethi.

“The Entire PCB family expresses their sorrow on the passing away of Imtiaz Ahmed. May the soul of the departed rest in eternal peace and grant the family and the dear ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss", said PCB COO, Subhan Ahmad.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Inna lillah e Wa inna eleh e rajeoon. He was a great fellow who always spoke well. Excellent player.

May Allah grant forbearance to his loved ones and grant him place in Paradise. Aameen.

 

[moghul]

RIP, so sad, was a great servant of Pakistan cricket in its initial days, will be remembered.

 

[Zeshan547]

His soul may rest in peace, he will always be remembered. He was such a nice bloke.

 

[AZulfi]

A gentleman

RIP

 

[pakistan cricket fan]

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raajioon.

 

[Veteran]

May he rest in peace. I am old enough to remember his great partnership with Waqar Hasan against New Zealand. It was a great comeback and the two had a partnership of 308 for the seventh wicket.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

May he rest in peace. I am old enough to remember his great partnership with Waqar Hasan against New Zealand. It was a great comeback and the two had a partnership of 308 for the seventh wicket.

Did you watch that match from ground ? Or followed it on radio ?

 

[Sadevdesai]

I saw his 300 not out at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai ..... against a Commonwealth Team !!!!