If a book were ever compiled on the achievements of Pakistan Television (PTV), it wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Azim brothers: Akhtar Viqar Azim and Athar Viqar Azim.

While Akhtar, the elder one, began his journey earlier and mostly stayed in Islamabad, it was Athar whose contributions to the broadcast media, especially in sports, left an indelible mark.

Athar Viqar Azeem passed away at the age of 76 on September 8, bringing to an end an illustrious career that made sports an integral part of many lives, including my own.

In 1973, PTV aired a few minutes of live coverage of a Test match played between Pakistan and Australia in Melbourne. At the time, a 24-year-old Athar, who had just joined the Current Affairs Department at PTV, had no idea how profoundly he would shape the broadcasting of cricket, hockey and squash in the years to come.

Veteran Pakistan TV producer and sports coverage pioneer Athar Viqar Azeem passed away on September 8, bringing an end to an illustrious broadcasting career. But his contributions went far beyond making sports an integral part of many lives…

“Athar and I started our careers at PTV almost together in 1973,” recalls senior producer Tajdar Adil, while speaking to Icon. “I looked after a daily programme titled Roznama, which aired from PTV every day except Sundays, when Tarjumaan, hosted by journalist Farhad Zaidi, was aired. Muslehuddin oversaw the programme while Athar produced it.

“Athar was passionate about sports, especially from his college days. Initially, his role in the Current Affairs Department limited him, but things changed when the 1976/77 cricket season began. Athar had an instinct for understanding the emotional connection viewers had with sports, such as cricket, hockey and squash. He knew how to bring those sports to life.”

PIONEER OF SPORTS COVERAGE

Athar didn’t just give viewers the chance to watch games; he made them feel like they were part of every victory. The 1978/79 series between India and Pakistan still gives goosebumps to viewers today. From the intense rivalry to the nail-biting finishes, Athar’s production ensured that the audience not only witnessed history but also experienced the thrill of the game, as if they were right there in the stadium.

Who can forget the 1982 Karachi Test and Imran Khan’s inswinging delivery that bowled Gundappa Vishwanath, or Javed Miandad’s legendary six in the AustralAsia Cup final in Sharjah in April 1986? These moments are etched in the memories of fans, not only because of the feats themselves but also due to Athar’s superb production and the excitement of commentator Iftikhar Ahmed.

Recalling those days from Canada, Iftikhar says, “[Athar and I] hit it off from our very first meeting. We regularly met at Shezan Ampi’s — hope it is still there — and at Farooq’s on Elphinstone Street. Athar had an unmatched eye for capturing the action on camera, often quicker than anyone else and, mind you, I’ve commentated for foreign channels as well. He and his brother were pioneers of sports coverage in the region.

“Sharjah Cricket owes a lot to Athar. He not only kept the cricket craze alive throughout the ’80s and the ’90s but also dared to bring Bollywood stars into the commentary box, even during Gen Ziaul Haq’s era. I remember interviewing Anil Kapoor’s father for Mr. India’s promotion in 1987, and other stars such as Rishi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, Feroz Khan and Shammi Kapoor joined us — something commonplace in cricket today but decades ahead of its time then.”

When Iftikhar sahib says that his commentary used to sync with Athar’s production, I could visualise the ‘high up in the air’ which was imitated by lads in street cricket matches of the ’80s.

“I interviewed the Japanese mixed martial arts fighter Antonio Inoki, after he defeated Akram Pehelwan in 1976, at a fight held in National Stadium, Karachi. Athar even made me do commentary for hockey matches, which was also fun, as he could make dry matches come to life with the style of coverage,” recalls Iftikhar Ahmed, who did commentary with Chishti Mujahid for over three decades.

Athar’s magic wasn’t limited to cricket. His productions for hockey and squash also set new standards. Samiullah, Manzoor Junior, Islahuudin, Jahangir Khan, Qamar Zaman and Jansher Khan, all had become household names due to the innovations suggested by Athar Viqar.

Flying horse Samiullah was at a loss of words when contacted by Icon. He said, “He [Athar Viqar] played a huge role in making us stars. It wasn’t common to give players screen time after a match, but Athar made sure it happened. He even brought us into the commentary box as experts.”

Squash legend Qamar Zaman credited Athar with introducing live squash coverage on PTV. “He did the Bismillah of live coverage of squash on PTV, he introduced us to the world. The placing of cameras even impressed the foreigners. I remember Chishti Mujahid commentating for squash, which added a regal touch to the sport. Even I was asked to give expert opinions on matches that didn’t involve me.”

Akhtar Viqar Azim, the elder brother of Athar who would go on to become the Managing Director of PTV, credits the modern coverage of squash to his younger brother.

“When the Jahangir Khan Sports Complex was being built, Nur Khan sahib asked Athar for advice. Squash matches were covered in bulletins but there were no frontal shots. Athar advised for a camera to be put right behind the front wall and a mirror was installed for that purpose. It made the coverage of the game quite exciting.”

DRAMA, MUSIC, NEWS, COOKERY

After retiring from PTV, Athar became associated with the Hum TV network, which was anything but sports. “Athar Viqar Azim was with Hum since its inception and was amongst the core team, including Sultana Siddiqui and Duraid Qureshi,” says Imran Mehboob, former GM Programming and Operations at the Hum TV network.

“From the technical aspects, the operations, the planning and hiring of key personnel, he was a key decision-maker. He was also part of the core management team that launched both Masala TV and, then later, Hum News. His programmes, especially on current affairs and sports on Hum TV included hosts such as Javed Jabbar, Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, Mazhar Abbas, Javed Miandad and Sarfaraz Nawaz amongst others.”

Athar Viqar Azim took Masala TV, Hum TV’s cooking channel, to the top by introducing several chefs as hosts who ended up becoming household names. Akhtar Viqar Azim recalls an interesting anecdote regarding the launch of Masala.

“It was launched at short notice before Ramazan. Athar’s cricket links led him to former Test cricketer Waqar Hasan, who was the owner of National Foods. Athar requested for a year’s sponsorship, which was granted.

“Athar also had a keen interest in films and dramas. He had an opinion about every actor and writer, He was married to [the late] Shirin Azim, director of PTV plays such as Uncle Urfi, Parchhaiyaan, Shehzori and Zair Zabar Paish. Athar’s input was there in the casting and designing of the dramas.

“When Shirin was doing Hum Sooraj Chaand Sitaray, a music programme with Sohail Rana, Athar was there to help too. He helped introduce kid singers that included Nazia Hassan and Zohaib Hassan, who went on to make a name for themselves in music,” recalls Akhtar Viqar Azim.

Athar’s contributions went beyond these diverse fields. He was the producer for the first privately produced weekly business news programme, Pakistan Business Update, produced by film distributor Satish Anand, and was also a key member of the Karachi Arts Council governing body for many years. Many recall that his second greatest ability — after his sports broadcasting acumen — was making connections, getting people together from various fields and sustaining relationships.

ETCHED IN HISTORY

Veteran cricket writer Qamar Ahmed shared a close friendship with Athar Viqar Azim for over 50 years. Whenever Athar visited London, he stayed with Qamar, who was involved with the foreign press. In the 1990s, Oxford University Press was compiling the Dictionary of Cricket, edited by the veteran Christopher Martin Jenkins.

Oxford sought contributions from 12 international journalists to write brief biographies of their countries’ cricketers and to include those who may not have played for their country but had contributed to the game in various capacities. Qamar Ahmed did justice to the call.

“I recommended coach Master Abdul Aziz, who left his family in India but became a father figure to the Muhammad brothers [Hanif, Mushtaq, Sadiq et al]. I also mentioned Air Vice Marshal Nur Khan, who elevated cricket, hockey and squash. Then there was Pir Pagaro, Justice A.R. Cornelius and Arif Ali Abbasi.

“When I looked at Athar Viqar Azim’s dynamic career and the transformative influence he had had on the sports he had covered, I felt compelled to include his name, for services as a pioneer of live cricket telecasts from Pakistan for PTV. Now, his name stands alongside the giants in World Cricketers — An Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Cricket.”

While Qamar Ahmed helped immortalise Athar Viqar Azim’s name in the cricket dictionary, it’s the legacy Athar built with his camera and visionary sports coverage, and the linkages he made between cultures and people that will live on for generations.

Published in Dawn, ICON, October 6th, 2024