Imitation is the highest form of flattery: for every parent in the sporting world, their first fans and often the first to idolise them are their children. Some might believe that their offspring has the potential to be the best in the world — and even better his or her accomplishments. But for others, a career starting with the tag of ‘potential superstar’ has ended with falling by the wayside despite familial connections.

This is the story of some parents who were great and their children who wanted to become great.

Like father like son

This list should be headed by the most talented parties in cricket — the Amarnaths and the Marshs.

While Lala Amarnath is known as the father of Indian cricket, his sons were also at one time regular members of the Indian team. The elder, Surinder, followed his dad into record books by scoring a century on his Test debut (like his father), while it was younger son Mohinder’s magical performance that helped India become world champions in 1983. Surinder’s career was cut short after an injury but Mohinder managed to represent India at the highest level for 20 years.

Another World Cup winner, Australia’s Geoff Marsh, recently handed a Test cap to his younger son Mitchell, whereas elder son Shaun received it from his father three years earlier, and went on to score a century on debut.

Closer to home, we have Little Master Hanif Mohammad, whose son Shoaib Mohammad’s name features amongst the better opening batsmen in Pakistan cricket. Both father and son have a combined tally of 100 Tests, over 6,000 runs and nearly 20 centuries (12 for Hanif, seven for Shoaib) while the younger Mohammad once was the proud owner of the highest individual record by a Pakistani in one dayers — before first Inzamam ul Haq and later Saeed Anwar bettered it.

Nazar Mohammad, who faced the first delivery in Tests for Pakistan not only gave the cricketing world a successor in Mudassar Nazar but the father-son share a unique record as well. They are the only pair of father-son to carry the bat through a completed Test innings, something that hasn’t been repeated in Test cricket’s history.

Then in India, there was Vijay Manjrekar and his son Sanjay who have a combined tally of 90 Test matches between them and scored more than 5,000 runs with the help of 11 centuries (seven for Vijay, four for Sanjay). Vinoo Mankad’s son Ashok followed his successful father into the cricket field and didn’t disappoint his critics, although he could have played more than 22 Tests which was exactly half of his father’s 44 Test appearances for India. More recently, World Cup winning all-rounder Roger Binny’s son Stuart made his Test debut for India after impressing all in limited overs.

Some pass down antique heirlooms to their heirs, but others bequeath skill and a love for sport

Travelling Down Under, we find out that before the Kiwi all-rounder Chris Cairns who could change the course of the match with his batting or bowling, there was Lance Cairns who had the same traits. In fact it was Lance’s genes that got transferred to his son Chris who helped New Zealand win the ICC Knock Out Tournament in 2000 with his all-round performance.

Sunil Gavaskar with son Rohan

Tried and failed

Not all those who share the same surname and genes shared the same kind of luck. Take West Indian wicketkeeper David Murray, for example, who was not as lucky as his father Sir Everton Weekes (he doesn’t even share the surname!) and was banned from playing cricket after he chose to travel to South Africa in the ’80s during the apartheid era.

Similarly, Sir Colin Cowdrey (father of Chris Cowdrey) and Sir Len Hutton (father of Richard Hutton) tried their level best, but their kids couldn’t sustain the pressure of their peers — who were none other than their own fathers.

Indian cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar’s son, Rohan, did follow in his father’s footsteps but behind the microphone; Rohan failed to impress as an international batsman in 11 ODIs.

Back home, former captain Majid Khan’s son Bazid did play for Pakistan at the international level but after a handful of matches, he was dropped for good, and now he is also sharing commentary duties on television.

It isn’t just limited to one generation; in fact there have been many instances where multiple generations have been found to excel at the game, and that too, at the top level.

Be it England’s David Lloyd, India’s Pankaj Roy or New Zealand’s Ken Rutherford, the offsprings of all these cricketers — Graham Lloyd, Pranab Roy and Hamish Marshall — failed to better their father’s performances, although Hamish still has a chance to do so.

Ian, Greg and Trevor Chappell with their late mother Jeanne

Outshining the fathers

When Majid Khan made his Test debut in the ’60s, his father Jahangir Khan resigned as a selector, since he considered himself a man of principles. Majid Khan not only became one of the four players to score a century before lunch in Test cricket, but also made a name for himself and Pakistan cricket with a spotless reputation and charisma that saw millions join his fan club.

England’s Chris Broad had a reputation for being a fierce competitor until his son Stuart Broad rose to prominence as an all-rounder. Not only did the baby-faced Stuart score a century at home — something that eluded his father — but he also became the captain of England’s T20 side.

Similarly, Alan Butcher’s son Mark captained England in a Test match against New Zealand, something his father couldn’t have done as he played just one Test for his country, in comparison to his son’s 71 Test matches.

Before he embarked for a series against Pakistan, Rod Latham must have told his son Tom that his record in Tests is better, as he has a century to his name. The Kiwis’ opening batsman might have taken that to heart, as he scored back-to-back centuries at Abu Dhabi and Dubai, coming out as a better batsman.

Staying in New Zealand, let’s talk about the Hadlee clan: when Walter Hadlee’s son, Dayle, was selected to play Test cricket, the veteran of 11 Tests said that the selectors had picked the wrong Hadlee. He may have meant Barry Hadlee who never played Test cricket (just two ODIs), but first Dayle Hadlee went on to represent New Zealand in 26 Tests, and later the youngest Hadlee of all — later Sir Richard Hadlee — played 86 Tests for his country and is regarded as one of the best all-rounders in the game. At one time, he was the leading wicket taker in Test cricket with 431 wickets and for 17 years, he dominated the game with his swinging deliveries and gutsy batting.

There have been other instances as well where England’s Alec Stewart and Johnny Bairstow, India’s Anshuman Gaekwad and South Africa’s Shaun Pollock came out as better performers than their fathers Micky Stewart, David Bairstow, Datta Gaekwad and Peter Pollock, respectively.

But the best case remains that of Iftikhar Ali Khan also known as Nawab of Pataudi senior, who made his Test debut for England, scored a century in his very first match and later on went on to lead India. Impressive, isn’t it? His son, Mansur Ali Khan aka Nawab of Pataudi, Junior, had other ideas. He went on to represent India in 46 tests, scored six centuries, is regarded as one of the best fielders produced by the subcontinent and was one of the first captains to instil the belief of winning in Team India. Imagine what he would have achieved had he not met an accident that would impair the sight in his right eye, forever.

Mind you, the cricketing genes in the Pataudi family ended with Pataudi Junior, as his famed son, Saif Ali Khan, is now a film actor like his sister, Soha Ali Khan, who have taken after their mother, Sharmila Tagore, who herself is regarded as one of the finest actresses in India. As for Saif Ali Khan’s love for the game, he says that he simply adores the game his father and grandfather played, but as long as he is watching it on television and is not on the cricket field.

And then there were a few who became actors after leaving cricket — Test cricketer Yograj Singh was known as father of Indian star Yuvraj Singh, but after the release of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, he is known as an actor of repute. He has been acting in films and TV for the past many years but his role of Milkha’s coach in the award-winning flick was lauded by all, be it in India or in Pakistan.

Late Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi with son Saif

And then there were grandchildren

Cricket isn’t just limited to one generation; in fact there have been many instances where multiple generations have been found to excel at the game, and that too, at the top level.

Pakistan’s Majid Khan is the son of Jahangir Khan who represented British India at the Test level in the 1930s. Majid’s son, Bazid, played ODI and Test cricket for Pakistan, making them the first family from the Indian subcontinent to have three generations of Test cricketers.

More recently, Shehzar Mohammad, son of Shoaib Mohammad and the grandson of Hanif Mohammad scored a first class century for Pakistan International Airlines becoming the first third generation Pakistani cricketer to do so.

West Indian cricketer George Headley, also known as the ‘Black Bradman’, can boast of two things — a Test average of over 60 and an intercontinental cricket family. His son Ron Headley played two tests for West Indies whereas grandson George Headley represented England in 15 Tests.

Also representing England was Nick Compton who is the grandson of the great Denis Compton, who played 78 tests for England.

People may not remember Vic Richardson as a cricketer for he played 19 Tests for Australia between 1924 and 1936, but his grandsons — Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell and Trevor Chappell — made him proud by representing Australia at the highest level. The eldest Chappell, Ian, made his Test debut in 1964 during his grandfather’s lifetime while he passed away a year before Greg played the first of his many Tests in 1970. It was a good thing that he didn’t live long enough to watch Trevor Chappell bowl the underarm delivery on the instructions of his brother, Greg, during an ODI against New Zealand in 1981, or he would have had a heart attack for sure!

Jahangir Khan with his late father Roshan Khan

Sports other than cricket

Most kids of great hockey players in Pakistan have stayed away from the national sport because not only does it pay less, but the standard of the game has also gone down in recent years. Apart from the current president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation and former Olympian, Akhtar Rasool, who followed in the footsteps of his father, Ghulam Rasool and whose son Hasan Akhtar plays too, as well as 1984 Olympic gold medallist, Tauseeq Dar, whose father, Munir Dar, and uncle, Tanvir Dar, served their country with distinction, not many have encouraged their children to venture into the game.

That’s why we see the nephews of Motiullah Khan — Samiullah Khan and Kaleemullah — but no one from their family. Still Hanif Khan has a son Azlan Khan and nephew Abdul Haseem Khan who play for Pakistan.

Squash may not be a team sport but it is one sport where Pakistan has both ruled the world and where the Khans are acknowledged as a dynasty. It all began with Hashim Khan, who began his career as a ball picker in British India and transformed himself into one of the greatest Squash players by the time Pakistan became an independent country.

He not only coached his younger brother Azam Khan (who managed to win British Open) but also opened the way for his distant relatives, Roshan Khan, and others, including the great Jahangir Khan who is Roshan’s son and regarded as undoubtedly the greatest squash player of all time. Azam Khan’s granddaughter Carla Khan also represented Pakistan in international squash tournaments before calling it quits a few years back.

Pakistan’s tennis ace Aisam ul Haq is a member of a great family of tennis stars — his first coach and maternal grandfather Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmed is regarded as an Indo-Pak tennis legend. His mother Nausheen Ihtisham and uncle Tayyab Iftikhar represented Pakistan in Fed Cup and Davis Cup, respectively, whereas cousins Samir Iftikhar and Ushna Suhail have also entered the courts to keep the legacy alive.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, February 22nd, 2015

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