ISLAMABAD Pakistan on Monday mourned the death of Khan Mohammed, one of its cricketing pioneers, who bowled the first delivery and took the first wicket in the country's inaugural Test match.

Mohammed died aged 81 in England on Sunday after battling prostate cancer.

'Cricket has lost another valuable asset,' Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt said in a statement.

'Mohammed was Pakistan's outstanding fast bowler of the 1950s and a gentleman cricketer.'

A skilled paceman, Mohammed bowled the first delivery in Pakistan's inaugural Test, against India in Delhi in October 1952.

He also took the first wicket when he dismissed Pankaj Roy in the same match, which India won by an innings and 70 runs.

Mohammed formed a lethal pair with Fazal Mahmood, taking 54 wickets in the 13 Tests he played for Pakistan.

After retiring, he took up coaching jobs in England and settled there.

'Mohammad was a very good paceman and a great colleague and with his death Pakistan has lost a pioneer of the game,' said Hanif Mohammad, one of the four survivors of that first Test.

Another surviving team-mate, Imtiaz Ahmed, praised Mohammed's warm personality.

'He was a friend of friends and a great player who served cricket in its nascent stages,' said Ahmed, a former wicket-keeper.

We thank you once more for your kind words and support and request that you keep my father in your prayers, Mohammed Kassim, one of Mohammeds sons based in Singapore, said while speaking to Dawn.com