Mudassar still going strong

Press, 25 January 1989, Page 34

Mudassar still going strong

Only the West Indies can claim as many outstanding individual cricketers as the Pakistan team currently touring New Zealand. Javed Miandad, Imran Khan and Abdul Qadir are among the truly great players of modern times. Wasim Akram might one day be mentioned in the same category, and there are few off-spinners who impress as much as Tauseef Ahmed. But for all their spectacular successes, they have required a firm foundation upon which to unleash their exceptional talents.

That has frequently been provided for them by Mudassar Nazar, a thoroughly dependable opening batsman and more than useful medium-paced bowler. Cricket has been Mudassar’s life. He was only 15 years of age when he made his first-class debut. Now 32, he is making a remarkable twenty-fifth tour in the service of his country. One of those previous overseas ventures, in 1984-85, was to New Zealand. It was not a productive visit, at least not by Mudassar’s high standards. He scored 75 against Canterbury, but mustered only 162 runs in five test innings and 57 runs from four limited-over games.

But in the second innings of the second test at Auckland Mudassar fought a lone, vain battle to prevent New Zealand from winning by 1 an innings. Mudassar contributed 89 of Pakistan’s 183/ rugs and finally hi*/ wicket, swinging*;/

wildly at a ball from Lance Cairns, to be last out.

He deserved to carry his bat. But it would not have been a new experience. Only Mudassar (when he made 152 not out against India at Lahore in 1982-83) and his father, Nazar Mohammad, have achieved that distinction for Pakistan.

He deserved to carry his bat. But it would not have been a new experience. Only Mudassar (when he made 152 not out against India at Lahore in 1982-83) and his father, Nazar Mohammad, have achieved that distinction for Pakistan. Mudassar has earned several other records in test and first-class cricket which emphasise the powers of his concentration.

In just his second test appearance, against England at Lahore in 1977-78, Mudassar recorded the slowest century in firstclass cricket — 557 minutes. Other marathon achievements include 241 runs and a 451-run thirdwicket partnership with Miandad against India at Hyderabad six years ago, a series in which he registered consecutive scores of 231, 152 not out and 152, and, in 1981-82, 241 of an opening stand of 389 with Mansoor Akhtar for United Bank against Rawalpindi. Mudassar and Miandad also hold the Pakistan third-wicket record against New Zealand, 212 at Hyderabad in 1984-85. In 74 tests Mudassar has accumulated 4103 runs at an average of

38.70, with 10 centuries and 17 half-centuries. Mudassar tends to be under-rated as a bowler, and his career test figures of 62 wickets at 39.43 are far from striking. But he deserves to be rated as more than someone to whom the ball is tossed in the hope of breaking a stubborn partnership. In fact, when conditions suit him Mudassar can be devastating — as England discovered at Lord’s in 1982.

Possibly still smarting from his “pair” (twice leg before wicket to lan Botham) in the opening match, Mudassar spearheaded Pakistan’s 1 flwicket victory at cricket’s headquarters. In England’s second innings Mudassar took six for 32, his best at firstclass level. When Pakistan had completed only its second triumph on English soil Mudassar could count Derek Randall, Allan Lamb, David Gower, Botham, Mike Gatting and lan Greig as his victims. Imran, Qadir and Sarfraz Nawaz had been relegated to supporting roles. Although England won the third test at Leeds, Mudassar had a second innings “bag” of Graham Fowler, Lamb, Gower and Botham to top the test bowling averages with 10 at 10.40 each.

Mudassar had compensated for an ordinary series in his specialist role, proving once again that he has done as much as anyone to lift Pakistan’s international standing in cricket. * JOHN COFFEY.