Nazar Mohammad Photo © PCB

It was on July 12, 1996 that Nazar Mohammad a former Pakistan Test player, left the world of cricket on a journey to his heavenly abode. Nazar created history for Pakistan by scoring the 1st Test century for his country and achieved the distinction of 'carrying the bat'. A prolific fielder at gully, he would not allow the ball to pass through the area he commanded. A highly talented player, Nazar was a true symbol of dedication.

I came to know him when I joined Ravi Gymkhana Cricket Club way back in 1948. Most of Lahore's cricket clubs practiced at Minto Park (now Iqbal Park) that happened to be the northern nerve centre of Pakistan's cricket. Handsome, young and smart, Nazar Mohammad was the backbone of Mamdot's Club. With a dozen top cricket clubs of the city having their net practice in Minto Park, the venue presented the look of a carnival.

The atmosphere then was far friendlier and cordial than it is now. Although quite a few renowned cricketers like A.H.Kardar, Imtiaz Ahmed, Zulfiqar Ahmed, Shuja-ud-Din, Amir Elahi, Murawat Hussain and others practiced in their respective nets, for his cheerful disposition and jovial attitude Nazar Mohammad was the heart and soul of all activities at Minto Park. The inter-club tournaments used to pose a tough competition in which Crescent Club and Mamdot's Club made the finals more than often. The fixture attracted more than half Lahore's population and whenever Mamdot Club won the championship, Nazar Mohammad was invariably behind the triumph.

Born in Lahore on March 5, 1921, Nazar Mohammad emerged as a top class player when he was still a student of Islamia High School Bhatti Gate, an institution that could boast of producing the cricket icons like Kardar, Imtiaz, Gul Mohammad, Zulfiqar and Khawaja Saeed besides Juma Khan and Yasin Khan who distinguished themselves as football players at national level.

After matriculation, Nazar joined Islamia College Lahore where he displayed his brilliance as a formidable opening batsman, a position that he never surrendered during his cricket career. He played many remarkable innings for the college as well as for the University of Punjab. The finals between Islamia College and Government College used to be a very exciting affair with Government College clinching the trophy most of the time. Islamia College started winning the championship when Nazar Mohammad boosted up their batting and continued to win for many years thereafter.

According to former captain Imtiaz Ahmed, Nazar was an all time best fielder at gully and more like a solid stonewall. Playing against the visiting Australian Services XI in 1945, he intercepted every ball coming his way and took some remarkable catches. Having failed to pierce the gully area and instead, losing wickets, the Australian batsmen stopped playing the cut shot. His brilliant fielding at gully deprived the visitors of a sizeable package of runs.

On account of his dedication, hard work, safe, sound and sturdy batting supplemented by excellent fielding, Nazar got recognition at a very early age. His consistent good performance in first class cricket resulted in selection to represent the Northern India Cricket Association (NICA) in the Ranji Trophy, India's most prestigious cricket championship, where he played some extremely valuable innings.

Playing against the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) in 1941-42, Nazar Mohammad (175) and Jagdish Lal (130) set up a new 1st wicket partnership record of 273 runs. NICA was led by Jahangir Khan (Majid Khan's father) who also scored an unbeaten 125. NICA having piled up a mammoth total of 613 for 7 skittled out the Frontier men for 90 and 118 runs to win the match by an innings and 405 runs.

Nazar also represented the Muslims of India in the Bombay Pentangular. The other teams were Hindus, Parsis, Europeans and the Rest of India. The competition bearing the some racial/religious overtones created tremendous interest among cricket lovers. In the late 40s when the Muslims won the championship, the triumph had come on account of a remarkable century by Nazar Mohammad.

By the time Pakistan came into being in August 1947, Nazar had emerged as a shining cricket star. In November 1948 Pakistan had its first encounter with a foreign team when a star studded West Indies team that included the three W's i.e, Weeks, Worrel and Walcott visited Pakistan for a one off Test played at the Bagh-i- Jinnah Ground. In the very first opening partnership for Pakistan Nazar (87) and Imtiaz (76) piled up 148 runs in the 1st innings' total of 241. The match was, however, drawn.

This was followed by Pakistan's first un-official visit to a foreign country Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in March 1949. In the two test matches played , Nazar scored 29 runs in the 1st Test that Pakistan won by an innings and 192 runs. In the 2nd Test, however, Nazar (170) and Murawat Hussain (164) were involved in a sparking partnership of 269 runs. Pakistan having scored 474 runs got Ceylon out for 311 and 210 winning the match by 10 wickets.

The commonwealth Cricket Team visited Pakistan in November 1949. In the only Test played at Lahore that Pakistan won by an innings and 177 runs, Nazar contributed 60 and 31 runs. He played another knock of 66 against the visiting MCC in November 1951.

After Pakistan secured full Test status, the team went on its first official tour to India in October 1952. The 17-man squad for the five Test series comprised A.H. Kardar (Captain), Anwar Hussain (Vice-captain), Fazal Mahmood, Nazar Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmed, Maqsood Ahmed, Hanif Mohammad, Zulfiqar Ahmed, Wazir Mohammad, Raja Amir Elahi, Waqar Hasan, Mohammed Hussain, Khalid Qureshi, Israr Ali, Khalid Ibadullah, R.N. Dinshaw and Khurshid Ahmed. India won the series 2-1. The most remarkable feature of the tour was Nazar's 124 not out in the 2nd Test at Lucknow, where he also achieved the distinction of carrying the bat.

It was after the conclusion of this tour that Nazar Mohammad fractured his arm in an unfortunate accident, never to play cricket again. In his brief stint with the official Pakistan team, Nazar played 5 Tests (8 innings) and scored a total of 277 runs at an average of 39.57. He later acted as a coach, selector and an umpire standing at many first class matches.

A sincere and a selfless person, Nazar always encouraged promising youngsters and was thus a source of inspiration for them. He was extremely honest in his thoughts and actions and whenever appointed as a selector, he made sure that the selection was carried out on pure merit.

Following on his trail, his son Mudassar Nazar went a step ahead by emerging as an excellent all-rounder. Like his illustrious father, Mudassar also opened the innings for Pakistan. He played 76 Tests and scored 4114 runs at an average of 38.09, also claiming 66 wickets. Like father like son, Mudassar also carried the bat in a Test against India at Lahore in 1983. He achieved the magnificent feat by scoring an unbeaten 152, in an innings dominated by Kapil Dev with a splendid haul of 8 wickets. Mudassar is presently acting as the Chief Coach for the PCB Cricket Academy.

Going down memory lane, I was Secretary of the Ravi Gymkhana Cricket Club when Mamdot's Club closed its nets for some time and Nazar joined our club. Imtiaz Ahmed was the Captain and Munawar Hussain who later became a Test umpire, the Vice Captain. Nazar had to be adjusted in accordance with his status. He was thus appointed Associate Captain. Apart from being a jolly good fellow Nazar happened to be an excellent singer.

After net practice we used to sit on the ground in a circle with Nazar entertaining us with his melodies. At times, the session prolonged till the stars appeared in the sky. His brother Feroze Nizami was a renowned music director who tried to drag him to playback singing. Nazar recorded a couple of duets with Madam Nur Jahan but in the final analysis preferred to pursue his cricket career.

Nazar Mohammad was a decent and soft-spoken individual who believed in remaining cheerful at all times. Walking was his hobby and his endurance unlimited. Coming to Gaddafi Stadium walking from his house across the city was a matter of routine for him. One really wondered how a person with such superb physical fitness and 'no tension attitude' could succumb to illness.

It was his personality, cheerful disposition, sociability and the art of making friends that gave Nazar Mohammad a much bigger name than many others who played more test matches than him. The irony of fate is that Nazar gave everything to cricket and did not receive much in return. He was so good at heart that his friends will never be able to forget him. God bless his soul.

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