Pakistan’s oldest living Test cricketer Wazir Mohammad passed away in Birmingham, UK, on Monday following a brief illness, family sources confirmed to Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net).
At 95 years and 295 days, Wazir was the third-longest living Test cricketer in the world, behind Australia’s Neil Harvey (97) and New Zealand’s Trevor McMahon (95 years, 339 days).
The Eldest of the Famous Mohammad Brothers
Wazir was the eldest of the five celebrated Mohammad brothers, four of whom represented Pakistan in Test cricket. His younger brother, the legendary Hanif Mohammad, earned the moniker Little Master for his solid, defiant batting that defined Pakistan’s early Test years.
Wazir Saheb passed away early Monday after a brief illness. He was one of the doyens of Pakistan cricket who played in the country’s first Test series in India in 1952:
A Pioneer of Pakistan’s Test Journey
Wazir played the first of his 20 Test matches at the Brabourne Stadium in Bombay (now Mumbai) during Pakistan’s inaugural series in 1952. He shared a warm relationship with India’s then-captain Lala Amarnath, and the two remained close friends for decades.
Wazir and Lala Amarnath would often meet in the UK whenever Lala visited. He also had deep friendships with Vinoo Mankad, Vijay Hazare, and Ghulam Ahmed—all of whom featured in that historic series.
A Cricketer Who Valued Camaraderie Over Rivalry
In his later years, Wazir lamented the deteriorating cricketing relationship between India and Pakistan, contrasting it with the warmth and friendship of the 1950s and 60s.
These are the worst scenes in Pakistan-India cricket. By not shaking hands with Pakistan players, Indians have polluted the game of cricket.
“We used to visit each other’s homes when we played. Lala was our family friend, and so were several other Indian players. If this is the way to play, it’s better we don’t play at all.”
He also expressed regret over being unable to visit his birthplace, Junagadh, due to visa issues. “I wanted to go to India in 2018, but I didn’t get a visa. It will remain one of my biggest regrets,” he had said.
A Legacy That Lives On
Wazir’s cricketing legacy continued through his family — his nephew Shoaib Mohammad, son of Hanif, also represented Pakistan in both Tests and ODIs.
With Wazir’s passing, Pakistan loses not only its oldest Test cricketer but also a living link to the nation’s cricketing roots — a time when the game was built on friendship, pride, and mutual respect.
