THE last day of 2016 saw the sad demise of Imtiaz Ahmed who was an able officer, a famous cricketer and a real gentleman.

It will not be an exaggeration if I say that along with Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Fazal Mahmood and Hanif Mohammad, Imtiaz put Pakistan on the world map of cricket, a few years after the independence of Pakistan in 1947.

‘Caught Imtiaz bowled Fazal’ almost became a cliché that was synonymous with every win that Pakistan secured at the time. And who can forget that epic victory at the Oval against England in 1954 where Imtiaz snared seven catches behind the stumps.

A few days before his death, Fazal Mahmood graciously came over for a lunch gathering hosted by me in his honour and told the audience that he would not have been half as successful as a bowler if it were not for Imtiaz behind the stumps.

An attacking batsman, Imtiaz relished short-pitched deliveries even from the fastest of bowlers, hooking and pulling them with disdain for sixes and fours.

In the famous Bridgetown Test against the West Indies in 1958, where Hanif created a world record with his epic 337 — the longest innings in Test history — it was Imtiaz who opened the second innings with Hanif as Pakistan followed on and hit a blistering 91 to set the stage for Pakistan to earn an honorable draw.

Imtiaz was a household name in Pakistan but remained humble and down to earth. One would never hear self-praise from this gentleman who would always give credit to others. Such was his character and spirit that he never deemed any role or assignment below his stature.

Besides serving many terms as selector and chief selector, he was instrumental in coaching the Pakistan women’s cricket team and taking it to the international level.

I remember once seeing him in the mid-afternoon heat of a scorching Lahore summer day, coaching the women’s cricket team with dedication and skill. At my request he reluctantly came out of the sun for a break.

Imtiaz Sahib rose to the rank of Wing Commander in the Pakistan Air Force and spent quite a few years in Peshawar in the mid-60s. It was there that I came to play a lot of club cricket with him and was amazed at his passion and enthusiasm for the game even at that age.

He would always be the first to arrive at the ground and generously gave tips to all the youngsters for whom it was a dream come true just to be in the company of one of our idols.

In 1969 a benefit match was organized for Gul Muhammad, the head groundsman at the Peshawar Club ground which was the venue of many international first class matches and including an India-Pakistan Test match in 1955.

Imtiaz captained our Peshawar team against a PIA Eleven which had come over on its own expense under the leadership of Little Master Hanif Mohammad. Many Pakistan Test cricketers including Shafqat Rana, Wasim Bari and Mushtaq Mohammad specially came for the sake of Gul Muhammad the groundsman.

Mushtaq had special reverence for the Peshawar club ground where he had scored fifty nine runs against the West Indies at a tender age of fifteen years in 1959. That performance earned him the Pakistan cap in the Lahore Test on that same tour of the West Indies which boasted the likes of Wes Hall, Lance Gibbs and Sir Garry Sobers amongst others.

I had the privilege and honour to work with Imtiaz Sahib very closely between 2006-2008 and requested him to continue the responsibility for coaching the Pakistan Women’s cricket team as well as finding new talent. He admirably fulfilled both roles, taking the women’s team to the next level.

Imtaiz Ahmed was a cricketer of international fame, a proud and patriotic officer of Pakistan Air force, but above all a noble and fine gentleman who did all Pakistanis really proud.

May Allah bless his soul and may he rest in peace.

The writer is a former PCB chairman

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2017