Eminent orthopaedic surgeon and adviser to Sindh chief minister on sports, Dr Mohammad Ali Shah, is no more amongst us as he left for his eternal abode on Monday in a Houston hospital where he had gone on Jan 24 for treatment of blood cancer.

Born in Bareilly, the 67-year-old Dr Shah was a multi-faceted personality bearing numerous qualities. He was such a workaholic that despite knowing about his disease, he never took it seriously and lived bravely by discharging all his duties day in and day out.

He had an undying passion for game of cricket. He, in fact, ate and slept cricket and often spoke in cricket terminology. It is pertinent to mention that he played active table tennis also during his educational days in Karachi.

It was his love for cricket that he developed an exclusive cricket stadium in North Nazimabad and named it after his illustrious father, the late Justice Asghar Ali Shah who died in 1987. The venue now serves as a cricketing nursery.

After graduating from Dow Medical College in 1970, he went to the UK and undertook his Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS). On his return, he established the A.O. Clinic in Nazimabad in 1980. Association Osteo-synthesis (A.O.), which means joining bones, is a term derived from Switzerland which is known for exporting watches more than exporting artificial humanlimbs.

A team of leading UK surgeons visited the A.O. Clinic soon afterwards and after a thorough examination gave it the nod.

Dr Shah later joined the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) before the last general elections in 2008 and was elected MPA from PS 103, the constituency where he lives, runs clinic and cricket stadium. Later, he was given the portfolio of Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs. Lately, he was appointed adviser to Sindh chief minister for sports in the aftermath of the dual nationality saga.

After assuming role of sports minister he was elected president of Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) for four years. He set-up the SOA office in the Sindh Sports Board Complex, Nazimabad and made the formerly brief-case body financially viable. He wasrecently re-elected for another four-year term SOA.

As president of the SOA, he conducted five Sindh Games in all the regions of the province - a feat that remains unparalleled. His dedication for sports can be gauged by the fact that despite his fast deteriorating health, he traveled across the provinceregularly to ensure completion of several sporting projects.

Dr Shah was decorated with three awards by the government in a span of 13 years — Pride of Performance (surgery) in 1996 by President Farooq Laghari, Tamga-i-Imtiaz (sports) in 2003 by President Pervez Musharraf and Sitara-i-Imtiaz (public service) in 2009 by President Asif Ali Zardari.

He is, perhaps, only the second civilian in the country’s history who have been bestowed with three highest awards - the first being nuclear scientist Dr A. Q. Khan.

Dr Shah was an avid stamp collector as well and boasted a rich collection which he specially brought from London to Karachi to hold an exhibition at the Arts Council.

Perturbed by country’s isolation at the hands of foreign cricket teams, Dr Shah worked tirelessly to arrange a two-match T20 series last year between an International World XI and Pakistan All Stars XI at the National Stadium on Oct 20 and 21 which was a tremendous effort on his part and helped in sending positive signals to the foreign teams for revival of international cricket athome.

He held various offices in cricket such as member governing board PCB, and president KCCA. He often used to do cricket commentary and the ICC also awarded him a gold medal on its centenary in 2010 for his meritorious contribution to the game.

Dr Shah’s services for mankind and sports in the country will forever be remembered. May Allah rest his soul in peace. Ameen