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KARACHI: Pakistan’s legendary opening batsman Alimuddin died after protracted illness, reports said on Thursday.
According to former Pakistan Test captain Mushtaq Muhammad, the 81-year-old former opener died in London. He never married in his life, Mushtaq informed state-run news agency APP.
Born in Ajmer (British India) on December 15, 1930, Alimuddin played 25 Test matches for Pakistan from 1954 to 1962, scoring 1091 runs and as well as 7275 runs in 140 first-class games.
He was the leading batsman during the 1954-55 series against India and scored 103 runs in a match at Karachi. During the disastrous 1962 tour to England, Alimuddin top-scored at Leeds with 50 and 60 runs.
In the early years, he formed a stable opening pair with little master Hanif Muhammad. In the Karachi Test of 1962, Alimuddin he hit a stroke-filled 109 against England. He was known for his solid technique and was a member of the team which defeated England at the Oval in 1954.
According to the report, he was the youngest person to have played first-class cricket, appearing for Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy at the age of just 12 years 73 days.
“Alimuddin was my senior partner and I learnt a great deal from him,” former Pakistan captain, Hanif Muhammad, a close friend of Alim said.
“Its sad day for cricket because he served Pakistan with great deal of honour and dignity,” he recalled.
“We met last year at Lord’s, London and I enjoyed his company,” Muhammad recalled.
He said, along with elder brothers Raees Muhammad and Wazir Muhammad, they used to make trips to Junagadh to watch Alimuddin in action during Ranji Trophies matches.
“He (Alim) remained well-dressed throughout his life and was a dedicated cricketer and modest person,” he said.
Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad paid glowing tributes Alimuddin for his services to cricket for his kindness to junior cricketers.
“He was in PIA in London and always helped fellow cricketers,” he said.
“Alim remained in cricketing circles throughout his life and used to arrange cricket matches,” Miandad said.
First-class cricketer Asif Ahmed, who played under Alimuddin recalled “Alimuddin Sahab always supported youngsters and it was under his leadership that Karachi Blues won the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in 1962.”
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On DawnNews
Comments (37) Closed
Jul 12, 2012 07:39pm
A wonderful person and sports man. Used to work for PIA at their Heathrow counter and always greeted the passenger with a smile.
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Jul 12, 2012 07:39pm
GENTLEMAN IS THE WORD FOR HIM. BE IT CRICKET OR OTHERWISE. GOD BLESS HIS SOUL.
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Jul 12, 2012 07:42pm
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajium
May Allah (SWT) grant my uncle AlimUddin Aljannat Firdaus.
We love you and you will always be in our heart.
Love From your Nephews and Nieces from California: Riaz, Moin, Mohi, Junaid, Rafat, Nuzhat and Shamalia!
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Jul 12, 2012 05:50pm
May Allah (SWT) bless his soul and give him place in Jannah, HE was a great Pakistani.
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Jul 12, 2012 07:32pm
May almighty God grant eternal rest to the departed soul and peace, consolation and serenity to all those mourning.
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Jul 13, 2012 07:40pm
My deep condolences for the man I knew from my school days,played and learnt a lot from him the sport I still love. May Allah rest his soul in peace. I believe you are his niece, could you please let me know the whereabout of his younger brother Saleemuddin I played lot of cricket with him in our younger days and used to meet him frequently in Sudbury(London)where they used to live.You could email me his contact at: marbeena@hotmail.com. Thanks.
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Jul 12, 2012 05:56pm
When I was a kid, i made him myhero because the calm nature that he batted. I once methim an gothis autograph. An extremly well dressed person who was kind and considerate to the youngsters who were in the hotel lobby trying to get autographs. May you rest in peace , Mr Alimuddin Sahib and thank you for the pleasure you provided me and other fans watch you play.
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Jul 13, 2012 10:07pm
I watched one of the most decent cricketers of his era, Alimuddin, open quite a few Test innings. What I want to know is does any one recall the hilarious incident, when one of the actresses of the time, had announced before a Test against India, that if any Pakistani cricketer made a century, she would marry him, EXCEPT Aliumuddin!!! And it so happened that he was the ONLY one who scored the century!! Could this be the reason he never marrie!!. I wish in our current national team we have half as decent a cricketer as Alimuddin. May Allah Grant him Jannatul Firdous..Ameen.
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Jul 12, 2012 05:49pm
Alim Uddin was the founders of Pakistan's glowing Cricket era. He was permenent member of our early side, which defeated England and India on thier soils. Naeem Khokhar (Karachi)
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Jul 13, 2012 10:55pm
Memories! Take me back to mid-late 50s(?) when I'd sneak out of school to listen to the Pakistan team progress on a transistor radio, paying special attention to the names like Hanif, Saeed AND Alim! (I dont quite recall now the dates each played).
Then money wasnt part of the contest.
I pray for the departed soul and my condolences to his family.
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Jul 13, 2012 07:10pm
It is Imtiaz Ahmad and Waqar Hassan.
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Jul 13, 2012 07:11pm
I hope some of his team members remember Sultan Abbas father of Rutan Kumar (Nazir Ali) and Wazir Ali when he visited their home in Pakistan. We will miss him (SWT)
Nazar Rizvi
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Jul 13, 2012 07:53am
He belonged to an era in which we used to say " be a sportsman" meaning be polite, gentle and honest. He had all these qualities to qualify as a true sportsman. May Allah SWT give him Maghfirah and JannatAl Firdaus (Aameen)
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Jul 12, 2012 09:19pm
May his soul rest in peace, he was a gentleman cricketer and a very confident opener and along with the little master gave some solid starts to Pakistan. I also remember watching him play first class cricket in Karachi .Asif Ahmed who has commented in this column was also a fine cricketer.
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Jul 12, 2012 09:49pm
Alimuddin's name figured prominently during Kardar's captaincy of the cricket team and as mentioned in the article there was a sense of continuity in the opening batting in pairing with Hanif Mohammad. I saw him often on visits to London when he served with PIA. May his soul rest in peace. Ameen.
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Jul 12, 2012 09:54pm
May Allah grant him Janatia Ferdoz and forgive all his sins. This is how life goes but in the end we all have to meet or creator.
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Jul 12, 2012 09:58pm
ALIM was a Gentleman,Polite ,Soft Spoken and one of the Greatest Cricketer of Pakistan of All Times.
My visits to Lords will not be the same without his company.
I will miss him .
Khuda Naghyban My Friend .
Colonel Prof Noori Ismaili
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Jul 12, 2012 10:01pm
ALIM was a Gentleman,Polite ,Soft Spoken and one of the Greatest Cricketer of Pakistan of All Times.
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Jul 12, 2012 10:35pm
I was lucky to watch him score 109 against Dexter's team at the National Stadium, Karachi in the 1962 series. He played delightful drives and hooks during that inning. May Allah bless his soul.
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Jul 12, 2012 10:47pm
I was lucky to watch Mr. Alimudin play that inning of 109 against Ted Dexters team in 1962. May Allah bless is soul. Khalid Khan, Kuwait
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Jul 12, 2012 11:06pm
Born in Ajmer British India and played cricket for Rajistan and Pakistan and died in England.
Reminds me of the lines from Shakespear : Life is nothing but a walking shadow, Every player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and is then seen no more...
Well I hope he throughly enjoyed himself.
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Jul 13, 2012 02:49pm
I met him twice at London Heathrow Airport, we became very good friends in few hours, he was a very nice man, May Allah grant him high place in Jannah InshAllah.
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Jul 13, 2012 01:21am
He was one of the most technically sound opening batsman pairing with our Little Master He didnt score many runs but Pakistan did find a regular steady opener in him. He was a quiet unassuming gentleman player of the game. May
Allah bless his soul.
Sheikh Siddeeque
USA
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Jul 13, 2012 03:31am
He was not only a great Cricketer but a great human being and a good friend!!! I had a chance to spent few weeks with him when he visited Los Angeles. its a big loss to Cricket Pakistan.
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Jul 13, 2012 04:02am
God bless the departed soul Ameen. I remember his name as a school kid when we could hardly understand a few words of English running commentary being broadcasted from the radio
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Jul 13, 2012 04:06am
can any one inform me that who out of pakistan first test eleven is still alive apart from hanif muhammad?
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Jul 13, 2012 04:12am
In Karachi, he used to live/visit near Burns Gardens, my friends & I used to stand by the entrance of his building in scorching heat to see him and to request him to sign our bats. He always obliged. He was very handsome and polite. his name was synonymous with Hanif Mohammed for whom he sacrificed a great deal by helping Hanif to score a single on the last ball of the over, so Hanif can bat again. There were moments when the strategy was tactical; but on other occasions, it was simply Hanif to score a century. Those were the peaceful days, despite of low wages/stipends; the cricket was played for honor & fun and there was not an iota of dishonesty, corruption or selfishness attached to it. May you rest in peace - Mr. Alim Uddin!
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Jul 13, 2012 04:48am
May Allah (SWT) rest is sould in peace. Alimuddinb was a great cricketer. In my childhood days he used to open innings with Muhammad Hanif and as he batteed I remained glued to the radio listening ball-to-ball commentary by Omar Qureshi. May Allah (SWT) give strength and patience to his family to bear the collosal loss. Ameen. Jamal Anjum
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Jul 13, 2012 11:51am
I was fortunate to have seen him bat at Kampala, Uganda.
Ranjit.
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Jul 13, 2012 11:56pm
"He was the youngest person to have played first-class cricket, appearing for Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy at the age of just 12 years 73 days."
That is amazing. Pele' began his career in football at Santos of Brazil when he was 14. Bobby Fischer won the US Open chess tournament at 14.
Alimuddin must have had very special skills because 12 years old is extremely young even for a debut in professional sports.. It is enough for people just to say "I saw him play in the old days."
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Jul 14, 2012 05:59am
pakistan lost a legend cricketer............................................
may ALLAH bless on him...................................
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Jul 14, 2012 06:31am
I am also among the lucky ones who saw that classic 109 at karachi in 1962. And omer qureshi said he has packed his bag for the english tour of 1962. I met him at lords in 2006 and he took me to the members stand for the afternoon and cared for me like an uncle. Was jovial and blunt in his opinions. May he rest in peace in jannat ! Hashim ali Dubai.
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Jul 14, 2012 07:51am
Alimuddin was a great cricketer nut he was like a grandfather after his brother azimuddin passed away. He taught me how to play cricket and he was the reason why i play in the US. It was hard to see him on the hospital bed and at his home through skype but it is even harder to see him leave us for good. May allah grant you peace and serenity in heaven. We all love u and you'llalways be in my heart.
- Rahim Mohamed (Grand Nephew)
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Jul 17, 2012 07:13am
ASAK-
Thanks so much for your kind word. I will email you Saleem uncle's info in the above email.
Thanks.
Shamalia
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Aug 08, 2012 03:02am
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna ILayhi Rajium
May Allah bless his soul and grant my grandfather AlimUddin Ajannat Firdaus. I had a pleasure spending time with him a whole month in London as I attended Lords match: Pakistan vs Australia 2010. I had an honor to visit the chairmans box at Lords as he was granted honor to ring the start of play bell for day 2 of the match. I visited Lord's Long room which is not allowed for everyone only allowed for members, because of my grandfather they allowed me to go. I play cricket in Los Angeles, California as he would give me a lot of tips on becoming a batsmen and tell me his stories about cricket in the past. He wanted to see me become a good cricketer and represent my country U.S.A as another member of the family represents his country. My plans was to go to London and spend my summer vacation with him and learn more valuable advices and he wanted me to join the Lord's youth program. May Allah guide me to the right direction and follow my grandfather's footsteps, dignity, pride, and honesty. He will remain in my heart forever.
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Aug 16, 2012 08:27am
Alimuddin my cousin. I knew him from childhood. We grew up together in Ajmer Rajasthan India. He was more friend than my cousin. In his last days I used to phone him every week about his health. Allah (SHT) bless him and give his soul Janna-tul-Firdoss. I will miss him forever.
Shahabuddin
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Aug 21, 2012 09:21pm
Inna Lilahi wa inna Ilayhi Rajium
I will miss my uncle Alimuddin who i loved dearly like my father. Im his nephew from his older brother Azimuddin. I was really close to him. We also used to live together in Karachi, Pakistan and in England before i migrated to USA. He always taught me how to be honest and i will always miss his advices. He used to always take pleasure into helping other people. The hole in my heart can never be fixed without him. May Allah grant him Jannat Firdaus.
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