Fazal Mahmood

Name : Fazal Mahmood
Born : 18-2-1927, Lahore
Died : May 30, 2005, Lahore (aged 78 years 101 days)
Batting style : Right-hand bat
Bowling style : Right-arm fast-medium

Profile

Fazal Mahmood was a Pakistani cricketer, regarded as the finest pace bowler of his country's early years. He played in 34 Test matches and took 139 wickets at a bowling average of 24.70. The first Pakistani to pass 100 wickets, he reached the landmark in his 22nd match.

Pakistan

The maiden first-class match in the newly formed country took place on 27 December 1947 between Punjab and Sind. Fazal played for Punjab, taking six wickets and scoring 60 in an innings victory.The match was the first time that Fazal opened the bowling alongside Khan Mohammad, his future new ball partner for Pakistan. The first international visitors to Pakistan were West Indies in November 1948. The last of three fixtures was against a representative side which contained Fazal, he failed to take a wicket in a drawn match.At the end of the 1948–49 season Pakistan toured Ceylon for four matches, Fazal was the leading wicket-taker with 20 wickets. On the return tour a year later he took 16 wickets in two matches.

A MCC side toured the subcontinent in 1951–52, playing a number of fixtures in Pakistan. In the first match against Punjab they were nearly forced to follow on after Fazal took 5/58.The fifth and final match of the tour was against a Pakistan side on a coir matting wicket at Karachi,Fazal exploited the surface to return figures of 6/40 in the MCC's first innings.The hosts went on to win by four wickets, a victory that played a large part in Pakistan gaining Test status.Pakistan were made Test members on 28 July 1952, less than five years after independence.


Fazal played his earliest first-class cricket for Northern India in the Ranji Trophy and strong performances there led to selection for India's inaugural tour of Australia in 1947–48. The independence of Pakistan, prior to the tour led Fazal, a Muslim, to withdraw and choose Pakistan. He played a major role in first gaining Test status for the new nation and then establishing them as a Test match team. He took ten wickets in a Test on four occasions; those against India, England and Australia coming in Pakistan's maiden victories over those teams. Fazal's most memorable performance came on the 1954 tour of England, when he had a leading role as Pakistan won at The Oval to square the series. He took match figures of 12/99, including 6/46 in the second innings as England collapsed chasing a target of 168.

Succeeding Abdul Kardar as captain, Fazal led the national team in 10 matches between 1959 and 1961. He had immediate success against the West Indies but after losing to Australia and a stalemate with India he was sacked as captain. In all Pakistan won two Tests and lost two under his leadership. He retired from Test and first-class cricket following the 1962 tour of England when he was called up to replace injured opening bowlers.

Early life
Born in Lahore, Fazal attended Islamia College, Lahore, from the age of 13. His father, Ghulam Hussain,was a Professor of Economics at the College as well as being president of the College's cricket club.He set Fazal a stringent training routine which involved waking at 4:30 am, walking five miles and running five miles. This schedule was adhered to for seven years.Fazal made the College first team in his second year and at the age of 15 took 5/13 in an inter-college final, a record for the tournament.