Majid Khan – a maestro at work (part 2)
Essentially picked as a bowler, Majid soon made his place in the middle order of the Pakistan squad due to his scintillating stroke play, with a record of being the first Pakistan player to score a hundred before lunch against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 a record that remained
unbroken for four decades. Majid proved to be a back bone for his team when they needed him most and in the first unofficial test played at Lahore he made 100 not out and 57 in the second innings. In the second test at Dacca he saved his team from a likely
defeat with his brilliant stand of 167 with Asif Iqbal with his contribution of 95.
Majid solved the problem of finding a suitable opening batsman, when he opened for his side at the Oval scoring 98 runs. He scored 973 runs in a county season which was only second to that of his captain Hanif Mohammad. Hitting tons against Glamorgan,
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kent-c802 and only with the exception of Asif Iqbal’s innings at Oval no innings was more spectacular that season than his 147 not out. His thirteen six’s in that knock was a record in England, with 5 six’s in one over against Roger Davis.
Curiously enough Sir Gary Sobers took over that record a year later on the same ground by scoring six sixes in an over.
Majid’s first season against Glamorgan saw him in Brilliant form, as he scored 1258 runs helping Glamorgan rise 11 places to finish at the third place. As the 1969 season was dominated by Glamorgan their success was almost synonymous with Majid’s outstanding
performance with the bat. His performances on the English arena, earned him great praise from the fans and cries of “Majid... Majid... Majid,” would echo in the ground almost like an incantation or a hymn of praise.
He was humble and took all the adulation rather calmly and was nick named ‘kipper’ by his team mates because of an aura of calmness and unmatched ease with which he played his game.
"When I go into bat" he exclaims, "I regard it as a personal battle with the bowler. The other ten on the field are his helpers. I always believe the ball is there to be hit, and it is wrong to change techniques for different types of wicket. I feel it is
the most certain way to get out to change your methods. I always try and play the way it comes naturally to me. I have been extremely happy with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Glamorgan-c784, who are a friendly side. The Welsh people I have found to be marvelously hospitable, and I plan to return
to play for three or four seasons after my Cambridge days."
Tony http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lewis-c72807 the captain of the Glamorgan side fondly recalls his tenure with the side, calling his loss, temporary but catastrophic. He looked forward to his influence with English university cricket which in his words is badly in need of a tonic of self
reassurance.
He was nominated as Wisden’s cricketer of the year in 1970, making almost 4000 runs in 63 test matches played. Scoring in excess of 27000 runs in first class cricket at an average of 43, majestic driving and hooking were Khan’s hall mark. His career ended
on a sad note though as his cousin Imran Khan was forced to drop him out of the national squad which resulted in souring the relationship between the two cricketers. During his time as an administrator he was upright and honest and surely made his mark as
an ICC match referree as well.
When his son Bazid Khan made his debut in 2005, his family became only the second after the Headley’s to have three generation of cricketers. Khan was fearless even against the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Joel-Garner-c67141, and Colin Croft in 1977 scoring in excess of 530 runs against
them in five tests.
Majid Khan forms a part of one of the great http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Majid-Khan-c73932
a humble tribute for his services to the game of cricket.
On an ending note, all cricket fans wish him a great Birthday and hope that he will be able to do much more for cricket as an administrator in the years to come.
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