Decorated Pacer Fazal Mahmood Formally Inducted Into PCB Hall of Fame
The first cricket superstar from Pakistan, Fazal Mahmood was formally inducted into the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) Hall of Fame on Friday. PCB’s Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain received the honor of posthumously inducting the legendary spinners into the Hall of Fame.
Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore hosted the event before the commencement of the PSL 2022 Eliminator game between Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi. In the ceremony, Hasnain gave the commemoration cap to Fazal Mahmood’s daughter Shaista Mahmood. He also presented a plaque to the seamer’s son Shahzad Mahmood.
Fazal Mahmood was the torchbearer of the gentlemen’s game in Pakistan in the 1950s. He was one of the first players from the Asian nation to get recognition. The seamer caused a carnage of the field during the Pakistan tour of England in 1954 by picking as many as 20 wickets in the four-match series.
After his exploits during the tour, he became the first Pakistani cricketer to earn a place in Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year in 1995. Fazal’s ability to swing the ball along with bowling some lethal leg-cutters made him the main reason behind his team’s victory against India, Australia, and West Indies.
PCB Chief Executive recalls the sacrifices made by Fazal Mahmood
While presenting the cap to Fazal Mahmood’s children, PCB Chief Executive spoke highly of the seamers’ contribution to the game of cricket. Hasnain also recalled how the pacer let go of an opportunity to play for India owing to his love for Pakistan.
“It is an honor for me to formally induct Fazal Mahmood into the PCB Hall of Fame on behalf of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Fazal’s contribution to Pakistan cricket is unmatched.
He sacrificed his Test selection for India and when he represented Pakistan after partition, he put Pakistan firmly on the world cricket map by producing successive match-winning performances against the top sides of that time,”
Faisal Hasnain said in a statement.
Further in his statement, Hasnain described Fazal as someone to make the cricket world aware of Pakistan. In his decorated cricket career, Fazam played a total of 34 Test matches and picked a whopping 139 wickets at an average of 24.70.
“It was Fazal’s persona, personality, and stardom that inspired and attracted the subsequent generation of cricketers who not only went on to become the legends of the game but also earned Pakistan priceless victories and success. It all started with Fazal.
“Fazal will always be an iconic cricketer. He spearheaded Pakistan’s journey from a young Test-playing nation into a world-beating side,”
Hasnain concluded.
Eight cricket players are a part of PCB Hall of Fame including Fazal Mahmood
Further in the ceremony, Fazal’s son also remembered the contributions made by his father. He also extended his gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket Board for recognizing the great work done by his father and including him in the Hall of Fame.
To celebrate the achievements of the seamer, Pakistan has bestowed Fazal Mahmood with a lot of accolades. Fazal Mahmood bagged the Presiden’s Pride of Performance award, the highest national literacy award of Pakistan, in 1958.
He was also bestowed with Hilal-e-Imtiaz, the second-highest civilian award, in 2012. Notably, apart from Fazal, there are other seven members who form a part of the Hall of the Fame namely Wasim Akram, Abdul Qadir, Hanif Mohammad, Javed Miandad, Waqar Younis, Imran Khan, and Zaheer Abbas.
