Fazal Mahmood

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = Pakistani
country = Pakistan
country abbrev = PAK
name = Fazal Mahmood
picture =
batting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm fast-medium
tests = 34
test runs = 620
test bat avg = 14.09
test 100s/50s = -/1
test top score = 60
test balls = 9834
test wickets = 139
test bowl avg = 24.70
test 5s = 13
test 10s = 4
test best bowling = 7/42
test catches/stumpings = 11/-
FCs = 112
FC runs = 2662
FC bat avg = 23.35
FC 100s/50s = 1/13
FC top score = 100*
FC balls = 25932
FC wickets = 466
FC bowl avg = 18.96
FC 5s = 38
FC 10s = 8
FC best bowling = 9/43
FC catches/stumpings = 39/-
debut date = 16 October
debut year = 1952
last date = 16 August
last year = 1962
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/40092.html Cricinfo.com

Fazal Mahmood, also known as Hero of The Oval, (February 18 1927 – May 30 2005), was a Pakistani cricketer, regarded as one of the finest seam bowlers of his country's early years.

Mahmood played his earliest first-class cricket for Northern India in the Ranji Trophy, and he was nearly selected for India's 1946 tour of England. After more fine domestic performances, he was picked for the 1947-1948 tour of Australia, but partition intervened and as a Pakistani Fazal withdrew from the team.

Fazal's finest hour for Pakistan came in August 1954, when he played a major part in his country's first Test match victory over England. He took 12 for 99 at The Oval on Pakistan's 1954 tour, highlighted by the British media which reported: "England Fazal-ed."

In their second innings, England had been set at 168 to win and seemed likely to reach their target when 109 Runs for 2 wickets near the end of the 4th day with Peter May and Denis Compton at the crease. Fazal, however, took the wickets of May, Godfrey Evans and Compton, with Shujauddin chipping in to remove Tom Graveney and England 125/6 at the close of play. Fazal also took the first two wickets to fall on the final day of the match to finish with an innings analysis of 30-11-46-6, and Pakistan pulled off a stirring win by 24 runs to draw the four-Test series 1-1. In recognition of his feats, Fazal Mahmood was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1955, the first Pakistani to be honoured so.

Fazal also contributed significantly to Pakistan's first win over the Australians in 1955, taking 13 wickets for loss of 114 runs in the match at Karachi. Later in his career he captained the national team in ten matches, succeeding AH Kardar, and altogether took 139 Test wickets at a bowling average of 24.70. He suffered a fatal heart attack at his Lahore residence on 30 May 2005. His friend and former team-mate Hanif Mohammad described Fazal as a "great human being" and "the doyen of Pakistan bowlers in the country's formative years".

Fazal was the son-in-law of Mohammad Saeed, Pakistani Cricket's first captain. He is still the only bowler in the history of Test cricket to take 12 or more wickets in a Test match against 4 different countries, those being India, England, Australia, and West Indies.Fact|date=February 2007 He reached 100 Test wickets in just 22 Tests.

External links

* [http://content.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/40092.html Player profile] from Cricinfo
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/other_international/pakistan/4593525.stm Obituary] from bbc.co.uk
* [http://www.dawn.com/2005/05/31/top10.htm Oval Hero Fazl dies - DAWN.com]