Fazal Mahmood

Right after the fiery Kardar, there was Fazal Mahmood to lead Pakistan. Peaking at 6’2,” Mahmood effectively utilized his height and became the first Pakistani to take 100 wickets, that too in just 22 matches.

He is considered to be one of Kardar’s weapons during his captaincy. His performances against India, England and Australia are remembered to this day as he took 10 wickets in those matches while Pakistan was just coming out as a Cricket-playing nation.

Like Kardar, Mahmood too, chose Pakistan over India during the country’s independence movement.

Fazal Mahmood led Pakistan in 10 matches from 1959 to 1961, his career as captain was short as he was removed from the post after losing against Australia and drawing against India.

Later in his career, Mahmood was ignored for younger bowlers and in 1962 after the Home series against England, Mahmood bid the sport farewell after he was only called in for the final Test against England only after the younger bowlers were injured.

Mahmood, with a Master’s Degree in Economics, was also part of Punjab, Pakistan’s Police force and retired as the DIG in 1976. He became the first bowler in the history of Test cricket to take 12 or more wickets in a single Test match against four different opponents (England, India, West Indies, and Australia).