S Thawfeeq: Kardar Pioneered Sri Lanka's ICC Status (25 Apr 1996)
Kardar, who was president of the Pakistan Cricket Board was so impressed with the Sri Lankan team`s performance during their unofficial Test played at Lahore in March 1974, that he decided Pakistan would sponsor Sri Lanka for full
25-Apr-1996
KARDAR PIONEERED LANKA`S ICC STATUS
BY SA`ADI THAWFEEQ
Kardar, who was president of the Pakistan Cricket Board was so
impressed with the Sri Lankan team`s performance during their
unofficial Test played at Lahore in March 1974, that he
decided Pakistan would sponsor Sri Lanka for full ICC membership
at the June meeting at Lord`s in 1975.
I wonder how many will remember the part Abdul Hafeez Kardar,
who died of a heart attack in Lahore on Sunday, played in
promoting Sri Lanka to become a fully-fledged Test cricket
nation.
Kardar, who was president of the Pakistan Cricket Board was so
impressed with the Sri Lankan team`s performance during their
unofficial Test played at Lahore in March 1974, that he
decided Pakistan would sponsor Sri Lanka for full ICC membership
at the June meeting at Lord`s in 1975.
Thus began the battle between the Sri Lankan Cricket Board and
the ICC to gain full membership of cricket`s controlling body.
Although Kardar set the ball rolling, it was not until 1981
that ICC finally recognised Sri Lanka as a full member by
granting it Test status.
But for Kardar`s great foresight, Sri Lanka may have never
played Test cricket. The entire nation therefore owes a debt of
gratitude to him and should feel saddened by his demise at the
age of 71.
In many ways, Kardar was the father of Pakistan cricket. He
was a determined and orthodox captain and an administrator of
great and almost unimpeachable authority.
Kardar is best remembered for leading his country to their
first win over England on their maiden tour there in 1954. The
win by 24 runs at the Oval tied the four-Test series 1-all (2
drawn) and stunned the cricket world because Pakistan were
then the minnows of international cricket, having gained Test
status in 1952.
He top scored in that memorable Test with 36 and was once more
the top scorer with 69 when his side beat Australia in a Test for
the first time at Karachi in 1956.
Kardar was captain of his country for the first 23 Tests
during which time they also beat India and the West Indies.
During the 1957-8 tour of the Caribbean, Kardar defied doctors`
orders in the third Test at Kingston, and despite a broken
finger scored 57 and bowled 37 overs.
He was a tall, attacking left-hand batsman and accurate leftarm slow and medium slow bowler, who in 26 Tests scored 927
runs (highest score 93 v India at Karachi, 1954-5), captured 21
wickets and held 16 catches.
He made his Test debut as Abdul Hafeez for India during their
tour of England in 1946, but after the partition in 1947,
became a citizen of Pakistan and represented his new country as
A.H. Kardar. He is one of the few cricketers to have represented
two countries in Test cricket.
Kardar was an Oxford `Blue` and also played for Warwickshire in
the English county championships between 1948 and 1950.
After he retired from active cricket in 1958, Kardar moved
into the Pakistan Cricket Board`s administrative field and apart
from becoming its president was also the chairman of selectors
for some time.
He was well known in politics, being elected to the Punjab
Provincial Assembly on the Left Wing People`s Party ticket
during the 1970 December general elections. Kardar later became
the provincial education minister and also held the
ambassador post to Switzerland.
During last month`s Wills World Cup tournament, the pavilion of
the Gaddafi Stadium which held the final between Sri Lanka and
Australia was named after Kardar - in recognition of his
contribution to Pakistan cricket.
It was quite appropriate that Sri Lanka should become the
World Cup champions at a venue named after a man who had set them
on the road to gain international recognition.
Source:: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)