Pakistani Greats remember the legend

Pakistan cricket's former greats remembered their meetings and compliments paid to them by Sir Donald Bradman as the country joined the world in grieve over the death of the legend.

Hanif Mohammad recalled his rare meeting with The Don on the 1964 tour to Australia, six years after he eclipsed his firstclass record of 452 by scoring 499.

"I was delighted and surprised to see Bradman one day on the nets. He walked towards me and admitted (to me) that he had anticipated a tall and well-build man instead of a short stature gentleman.

"I think it was the warmest compliment I ever received because the standards set by Bradman were so high that they needed to be matched by someone special," Hanif, one of the five illustrious Mohammad brothers, said.

Fazal Mahmood, Pakistan's 1954 Oval Test hero, said in a written statement from Lahore: "Bradman, when introduced to me by the highest Pakistan dignitary, said: `I only know Fazal of Pakistan'. The Don was a unique personality in the world of cricket who had complete control and mastery over the willow."

Zaheer Abbas, who made several tours to Australia, recollected that when he was selected in a World Eleven squad for the 1973 tour to Down Under after scoring 274 at Edgbaston, he got a lifetime opportunity to meet Bradman.

"Bradman praised the wide range of strokes I had. He appreciated my footwork and predicted that I had a good long career ahead of me. Need not to say that I played for another 13 years after that which proves his knowledge of the game," Zaheer said.

Fazal Mahmood admitted that he missed the opportunity of touring Australia in 1947 with the All India's team after preferring to migrate to Pakistan by rejecting selection.

"I rue that opportunity because that would have provided me a chance to play against Bradman. Naturally, I would have learnt a lot by bowling to him," he said.

Fazal said Bradman was such a maestro that even the bodyline strategy by Harold Larwood and company couldn't stop the runs flow from his blade.

Hanif said Bradman's death had come at a bad time for cricket.

"Cricket at this critical juncture couldn't afford to lose Bradman. After hearing all the depressing news of corruption, it was Bradman upon whom people used to look for the brighter side of the game," Hanif said with reference to worldwide allegations of betting and match-fixing which has rocked the sport and left the credibility of the game at the lowest ebb.

"I sincerely hope that after The Don, cricket continues to flourish and be played the way Bradman liked it to be played," Hanif said.

"I think the greatest success of any post World War II batsman could be to become the shadow of Bradman. No one can match him because he was, is and will be the ultimate," Hanif said.

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, while condoling the death of Bradman, said: "He was the father of all cricketers, an inspiration and role model for the youngsters. Cricket will take a long time to recover from his death."