In the not-too- distant past when TV had not yet started in Pakistan, running commentary on cricket test matches was broadcast by the famous duo of Omar Qureshi and Jamshed Marker. In those days shorter version of this game had not yet started. It was a treat to listen to this duo as their pronunciation was flawless . Most of the teenaged cricket fans used to tune in Radio Pakistan to listen to their live commentary. Jamshed Marker later on joined Foreign Service, remained Pakistan’s Ambassador in a number of countries and also wrote a book on foreign affairs which was widely appreciated while Omar Qureshi worked as a journalist as long as he lived. Very few people know that he had been a class fellow of ZA Bhutto too.
When the shorter version of the game like one- dayers was being introduced it was opposed by many senior players saying that cricket is a gentleman’s game and the ODIs will commercialize it and danger of monetary corruption creeping into it in that case cannot be ruled out. Time proved how much correct was their apprehension as many prominent players had been gaoled on charges of match fixing and ball tampering.
Cricket observers say that a captain like Abdul Hafeez Kardar wasn’t seen by Pakistan. The players respected and feared him at the same time. Though he was an ordinary all rounder but was a very strict disciplinarian. A debonair like paceman Fazal Mahmood was also not seen by Pakistan cricket team.
Isn’t it a fact that the rulers of this country have not patronized hockey the way they have been munificent with cricket despite the fact that hockey has always been regarded as national game of Pakistan. Our hockey players ruled the roost for nearly half a century between 1948 and 1992 during which they won every international hockey tournament worth its salt. Our hockey boys were always at the victory stand either winning gold, silver or bronze medals.
Besides Squash was another game in which our players excelled in the squash courts of the world which have not seen the likes of Hasham Khan, Azam khan, Roshan Khan, Hiddy jehan, Qamar Zaman, Jehangir Khan, Mohibullah Khan, and Jansher Khan.
Lately, however, some promise has been shown by our youngsters in the hockey fields and squash courts and hopefully they will bounce back. They have in squash role models like Hasham Khan and in hockey role models like Dara, Hameedi, Atif, Naseer Bunda, Waheed, Hasan Sardar, Salimullah , Matiullah, Tanweer Daar and Shahbaz Sheikh.
