Wazir Mohammad, Pakistan's oldest cricketer, passes away: Remembering a legend of the sport.

Former Pakistan Test cricketer Wazir Mohammad, the oldest living Test cricketer of Pakistan, has died at the age of 95 in Solihull, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Born on December 22, 1929, in Junagadh, a princely state at the time, Wazir was a prominent figure in Pakistan's early cricket era. He was also the elder brother of the celebrated Hanif Mohammad, known as the "Little Master". Wazir was part of the renowned Mohammad cricketing family, which significantly contributed to Pakistan's rise in international cricket.

A resilient middle-order batsman, Wazir played in 20 Test matches for Pakistan between 1952 and 1959, scoring 801 runs, including two centuries and three fifties. His calm demeanor and patient batting earned him respect during Pakistan's formative years in international cricket in the 1950s and 60s. Wazir was the third-oldest surviving men's Test cricketer at the time of his death, after Australia's Neil Harvey and New Zealand's Trevor MacMahon.

Wazir's contributions came at a crucial time when Pakistan was establishing itself in cricket, having gained Test status in 1952. He was a member of Pakistan's first Test squad in 1952 and the last surviving member of that squad. A key moment in his career was his unbeaten score of 42 in Pakistan's historic first Test victory against England at The Oval in 1954, which solidified Pakistan's position in world cricket. In 1957-58, he played a remarkable innings of 189 against the West Indies in Port of Spain, contributing to Pakistan's victory.

After retiring from cricket, Wazir served as an advisor to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) before moving to the United Kingdom. He belonged to a family that produced some of Pakistan's finest cricketers, including Hanif, Mushtaq, Sadiq, and Raees Mohammad. Four of the brothers represented Pakistan in Test cricket, while Raees played in first-class cricket. His nephew, Shoaib Mohammad, also played for Pakistan, continuing the family's cricketing legacy.

The PCB and members of the cricketing community have expressed their condolences. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi mourned Wazir's death, lauding him as "a fine batsman and a sophisticated gentleman". Naqvi acknowledged Wazir's significant contributions to Pakistan cricket and offered prayers for his family.

Wazir's funeral prayers will be held at Birmingham's Central Mosque, followed by burial in the local cemetery. His younger brother, Sadiq Mohammad, and nephew, Shoaib Mohammad, have expressed their grief. Tributes have poured in from across Pakistan's cricket fraternity, including former Test captains Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Moin Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Wasim Bari, and Aamir Sohail. Wazir Mohammad's death marks the end of an era, remembered for commitment and elegance, and for laying the foundation of Pakistan cricket.


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Eager and inquisitive, Aahana is a journalist with a passion for local human-interest stories and sports. She's quickly learning the art of interviewing, aiming to amplify the voices of everyday people in her community, and enjoys keeping up with the latest in the sports world. Aahana is committed to ethical reporting and believes in the power of storytelling to connect individuals and foster understanding.
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