RAWALPINDI: For a majority among the modern generation of cricket diehards, the name Pindi Club Ground in the heart of Rawalpindi nowadays sounds more like prehistoric paraphernalia. It used to be a private club in the years gone by before being renamed as the Army Cricket Ground.

Located approximately six kilometres from the Pindi Cricket Stadium — the established international cricket centre and the venue of the ongoing first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka — this arena in the garrison town is loaded with a cricketing history to be really proud of.

The tale of this lovely ground is quite fascinating. During a very recent chat, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ehsan Mani revealed that he was one of the scorers when New Zealand played Pakistan in the only Test to be staged at the Pindi Club Ground.

“Yes, it is true that during my student life I was assigned to act as one of the two official scorers in that Test match here. The game started four days after my 20th birthday. I can still recall that Pakistan winning quite comfortably in four days [the actual margin being an innings and 64 runs],” the Rawalpindi-born Mani, who also served as president of the International Cricket Council from 2003 to 2006, reminisced.

“At that time, the provision of a rest day was in operation. Pakistan might have finished off New Zealand in three days but they had to wait until day four which was after the rest day because they [New Zealand] were six wickets down [for 59 runs before being dismissed for 79 on day four] at stumps.”

Naushad Ali, the wicket-keeper/batsman who served in the Pakistan Army and retired as colonel, didn’t have fond memories of that Test. Opening the innings, Naushad was bowled by New Zealand captain John Reid for only two runs.

But the colonel, who is settled in Islamabad, narrated a different story while talking to Dawn: “Maqsood Ahmed, the former Test batsman, was a legendary figure in Rawalpindi during these times and a real character. Merry Max [Maqsood’s nickname] had a part in Pakistan winning. During the match he invited John Reid to a club. John became so drunkard that he lost his senses to the extent that he wasn’t able to focus on the Test,” Naushad recalls.

“That showed that Merry Max was of sharp mind and noticed that Reid was the star player of his team. He [Maqsood] told me of intentions beforehand and after we won the Test, Maqsood came to me and said: ‘look I too had played a big role in Pakistan winning so handsomely!’ Merry Max was really an amazing individual.”

Apart from the Test match, the Pindi Club Ground hosted two One-day Internationals — Pakistan defeating the Viv Richards-led West Indies by five wickets in December 1985 before sealing an 18-run victory over England during the 1987 World Cup pool game. The fixture in October that year was completed on the reserve day after rain had curtailed play on the original date.

The last significant game to be played at this famous ground was the BCCP Patron’s XI hosting India in November 1989.

During the years it was regularly in use, the Pindi Club Ground served as the venue for matches against teams visiting Pakistan. Long before the independence, the arena hosted the Marylebone Cricket Club, popularly known as the MCC, for two games against the Europeans and Rawalpindi Sports Club in November 1926.

After Pakistan gained independence, Ceylon — the old name of Sri Lanka — became the first foreign side to play at the Pindi Club Ground against Commander-in-Chief XI March 1550. That led to the ground playing host to subsequent national teams from abroad. India’s maiden tour of Pakistan included a match against Combined Services in February 1955.

The procession of these matches was a major highlight for the garrison town. There were times when touring sides started the trip to Pakistan with a three-day game against the local team — which were often named as either the President’s XI or the Patron’s XI and comprised players from different parts of the country. Those fixtures were given importance as they also served as trial matches for future Pakistan stars. One such star was Wasim Akram, arguably the greatest left-arm fast bowler of all time who launched his entry into first-class cricket with nine wickets — including seven in the first innings — against New Zealand in November 1984.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2019