MEZ Ghazali passes away

The former Pakistan Test player MEZ Ghazali died in Karachi on April 26. He was 79, and had been ill for some time.

MEZ Ghazali Photo © PCB

"Ebbu" Ghazali was an offspinning allrounder who played two Tests on Pakistan's first full tour of England, in 1954. He made 18 and 14 at Trent Bridge, but at Old Trafford bagged a pair inside two hours - the fastest in Test history. In all he scored 601 runs (28.61) and took 17 wickets (39.64) on that tour.

He was also a member of the strong Pakistan Eaglets side which toured England the year before. His highest first-class score was 160, for Services at Karachi in 1953-54, and his best bowling (5 for 28) came the following season against Punjab at Lahore.

Mohammad Ebrahim Zainuddin Ghazali was born in Gujarat, played for Maharashtra before Partition from India, and served as an administrator after his retirement. He was manager of the Pakistan tour of Australia in 1972-73, by which time he was a wing commander in the Pakistan Air Force.