Former Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Nazir passed away at 78 to leave the Pakistan cricket fraternity in utter grief. The former cricketer and umpire succumbed to a prolonged illness and had been bedridden for the past few months, as confirmed by his son, Noman Nazir.
Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Nazir dies at 78
“My father was badly injured in a road accident some five years back and after that he never got over his health problems and for the last few months was bed-ridden. He passed away in hospital,” Noman said, as quoted by Indian Express.
Nazir represented Pakistan in 14 Test matches and 4 One-Day Internationals between 1969 and 1984. Known for his off-spin bowling, he made a big impact during his 14-year career.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mohammad Nazir following his passing.
"The PCB is saddened by the passing of former Test cricketer and umpire Mohammad Nazir. He represented Pakistan in 14 Tests and four ODIs from 1969 to 1984, taking 37 international wickets. He also officiated five Tests and 15 ODIs as an umpire. PCB offers its heartfelt condolences to his friends and family," PCB posted on X.
Mohammad Nazir's career in a nutshell
Mohammad Nazir's Test debut in 1969 against New Zealand was a memorable one. He made an instant impact, claiming 7 wickets for 99 runs in the first innings. His off-spin bowling proved to be a formidable force, and he also contributed with the bat, scoring unbeaten innings of 29 and 17 runs. Despite trailing in the first innings, Pakistan fought back, thanks in part to Nazir's impressive performance. The match eventually ended in a draw, marking the end of legendary batsman Hanif Mohammad's Test career.
Despite consistent performances in domestic cricket, Mohammad Nazir played only one Test match after his impressive debut in 1969. It wasn't until November 1980 that he was selected to represent Pakistan once again, this time against the formidable West Indies in a home Test series.
Nazir made a significant impact in his comeback Test series against the West Indies, dismissing the legendary Sir Vivian Richards three times. However, he also faced a memorable over from Sylvester Clarke, conceding three consecutive sixes in the second Test. This over, which cost 22 runs, set a record at the time. Nazir's final five-wicket haul came against India in Nagpur, where he claimed 5 wickets for 72 runs in the second innings. After retiring as a player, he transitioned to umpiring, officiating in 5 Test matches and 15 One-Day Internationals.
In his 14 Test matches, Mohammad Nazir scored 144 runs at an average of 18 and took 34 wickets at an average of 33.05. He also claimed 3 wickets in 4 One-Day Internationals at an average of 52. But Nazir was a stalwart when it comes domestic cricket. The star spinner took a whopping 829 wickets in First-Class cricket and also had 35 List A scalps. Meanwhile, he amassed 4242 First-Class runs and also had 35 runs in List A cricket.
