'Pakistan's torch bearer'

Fazal Mahmood, the great Pakistani seam bowler who took 37 wickets in three of his country's most notable Test victories, against India, England and Australia between 1952 and 1956, has died at the age of 78.

Fazal Mahmood: Pakistani icon © Getty Images Enlarge

"Mahmood was a great human being, always willing to help anyone who sought his advice. He was the doyen of Pakistan bowlers in the formative years and all our wins since we started playing Test cricket were indebted to him. It was just because of his bowling feats that Pakistan achieved the rare honour of beating every country in our early series in 1950s and 60s."
Hanif Mohammad, former Pakistan opening batsman and contemporary of Mahmood's

"As a bowler he was a different breed even during those days. Tall and well-built he never uttered a wrong word on the field of play. He was never brash with words and aggressive in his attitude as he came charging down to beat the batsman. His attitude never represented that of a typical fast bowler- he was never offensive, instead he was a mild-mannered guy, who smiled and plesant to talk to both on-and-off the field."
Nari Contractor, former Indian cricketer who played against Fazal.

"I played with him for three years and he was a true fast bowler, a great gentleman and great ambassador for the game."
Former team-mate, Nasim-ul-Ghani

"A great chapter of fast bowling has ended today. Mahmood was always kind and generous to me and it's a loss for all the cricket players in Pakistan for he was the torch bearer."
Shoaib Akhtar