Fazal Mahmood-'hero of The Oval' passes away

Fazal Mahmood, one of the greatest of Pakistani cricketers, has died at his home in Lahore Tuesday, aged 78.

Mahmood, a tall medium-pacer with immaculate control and deceptive late movement, took 139 wickets in 34 Tests between 1952-53 and 1962. He played in Pakistan's inaugural Test, against India at Delhi in October 1952, and produced figures of 12 for 94 at Lucknow in the second match to secure Pakistan's first-ever Test victory.

Mahmood, however, will forever be remembered for his performance against England two years later, when he took 12 wickets at The Oval in a thrilling series-levelling victory.

His second-innings figures of 6 for 46 included the prize scalps of Peter May and Denis Compton, as England slumped from 109 for 2 to 143 all out, to lose by a mere 24 runs. That performance earned him the accolade of being one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year in 1955.

Mahmood also played a lead role in Pakistan's first-ever victory over Australia, taking 13 for 114 at Karachi in 1955. Before the partition of India and Pakistan, he had played in the Ranji Trophy for Northern India and had earned selection for India's tour to Australia in 1946. Instead, however, he chose to migrate to Pakistan, where he earned a living as a police officer.

"Mahmood suffered a heart attack which he couldn't survive," his son Shahazad Mahmood told AFP. "He was otherwise healthy and used to go to his office even after a prostate operation." Alongside his contemporaries, Imtiaz Ahmed and Hanif Mohammad, Mahmood was often referred to as one of the icons of Pakistan cricket, and the Pakistan Cricket Board was swift to send its condolences to his family.

"On behalf of the chairman, colleagues in PCB and on my own behalf, I would like to convey heartfelt condolences on the sad and untimely passing away of your father who was undoubtedly Pakistan's great hero," said Abbas Zaidi, the director of board operations in a statement. "We pray that his soul rests in peace and may Allah Almighty give you and your family strength to bear this huge loss."

Tributes

"Fazal Mahmood was a great human being, always willing to help anyone who sought his advice. He was the doyen of Pakistan bowlers in the formative years and all our wins since we started playing Test cricket were indebted to him.

It was just because of his bowling feats that Pakistan achieved the rare honour of beating every country in our early series in 1950s and 60s." - Hanif Mohammad, former Pakistan opening batsman and contemporary of Mahmood's. "As a bowler he was a different breed even during those days. Tall and well-built he never uttered a wrong word on the field of play. He was never brash with words and aggressive in his attitude as he came charging down to beat the batsman.

His attitude never represented that of a typical fast bowler- he was never offensive, instead he was a mild-mannered guy, who smiled and plesant to talk to both on-and-off the field." - Nari Contractor, former Indian cricketer who played against Fazal.

"I played with him for three years and he was a true fast bowler, a great gentleman and great ambassador for the game." - former team-mate, Nasim-ul-Ghani.

"A great chapter of fast bowling has ended today. Mahmood was always kind and generous to me and it's a loss for all the cricket players in Pakistan for he was the torch bearer." - Shoaib Akhtar -

[Cricinfo]