Saeed Ahmed, the previous Pakistan captain and allrounder, has died in Lahore at the age of 86 after a short sickness. Saeed, who performed 41 Take a look at matches between 1958 and 1973, captained the aspect briefly, for 3 drawn Take a look at matches towards England in 1969, changing Hanif Mohammad. He scored 2991 Take a look at runs, together with 5 Take a look at centuries, three of which got here towards India. A succesful offspinner, he additionally took 22 Take a look at wickets.
Saeed was born in Jalandhar in 1937 in what was then British India – now part of Indian Punjab. He made his debut at the age of 20 towards West Indies within the well-known drawn Take a look at in Bridgetown, the place Hanif Mohammad batted for 970 minutes to attain 337. Saeed struck up a 154-run partnership with Mohammad for the third wicket, scoring 65 as West Indies bowled 319 overs earlier than the sport was in the end known as off.
He shortly made a reputation for his grace and straightforward energy, notably when driving the ball, and demonstrated immediately that he belonged at the very best degree. He completed his profession with a batting common of 40.01, nearly equivalent to his first-class common of 40.02. He later scored his first of 5 Take a look at lots of – 150 – in Georgetown towards an assault that included Roy Gilchrist, Lance Gibbs and Garry Sobers, although West Indies gained that Take a look at by eight wickets. Pakistan by no means gained a Take a look at he scored 100 in, although enjoying within the least prolific interval of Pakistan’s Take a look at historical past might have been an element there.
He was a staple within the Pakistan aspect for many of his profession, although it ended ignominiously. After getting right into a spat with Dennis Lillee on Pakistan’s 1972 tour of Australia, he dominated himself out of the third Take a look at citing a again damage. The board believed he was faking it, and despatched him residence for self-discipline; he would by no means play for Pakistan once more.
“The PCB is saddened over the demise of one among our former Take a look at captain and expresses deep condolences to the household of Saeed Ahmed,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated. “He served Pakistan with all his coronary heart and the PCB honours his document and providers for the Take a look at staff.”
After retirement, Saeed stepped away from cricket, by no means working within the sport once more. He lived by himself in Lahore for a number of years, residing a reclusive life with few mates or household for firm, whereas his deteriorating well being required repeated hospital visits. He was taken to hospital at midday on Wednesday, and died there shortly after.
He’s survived by two sons, a daughter, and half-brother Younis Ahmed, who performed 4 Checks for Pakistan.
