Shujauddin, one of the most prominent cricketers who helped Pakistan established on the world cricket map in her formative years of cricket history died in London on 7th February 2006. He was 75.

He was a dour right handed batsman who bowled orthodox slow left arm spinners mixing with chinaman. Shuja had the distinction to represent Pakistan in the country’s inaugural representative match at international level played against the West-Indies in 1948 at Lahore. Later he was also instrumental in Pakistan’s famous victories against England at the Oval in 1954, against New Zealand at Karachi in 1955-56, against the West Indies at Karachi and Dacca in 1958-59. But it was a season later when Shujauddin gave the most memorable performance of his career when he played that invaluable characteristic innings of 45 in 318 minutes against Australia at Lahore in 1959-60. Pakistan had collapsed in the first innings and skipper Imtiaz Ahmed reposed confidence in him and sent him two down to dourly defend and stay at the wicket. Shuja dead batted ball after ball and stubbornly stood there for over five hours and added 169 runs with Saeed Ahmed for the third wicket. Such was his patience that he took 65 minutes to score his first run. His patient Knock is amongst the slowest innings ever in entire test Cricket. Ironically his monumental feat narrowly failed to save Pakistan from defeat in that test.

In his early start of the career Shuja first came to lime light when he notched up a classic century (112) for the combined Universities XI against the visiting MCC team in Pakistan in 1950-51. Though not included in Pakistan team to tour India in 1952, he gave an excellent performance on the subsequent tour of England in 1954. Earning nick name of 'Ujah' on the tour he bowled superbly against Leicestershire (5/137), Devonshire (3/36 & 4/42), Oxford University (4/45), Glam organ (3/21 & 3/46) Lancashire (5/26), Somerset (3/68), Warwickshire (4/31), Middlesex (4/66 & 3/85). All England XI (2/47), and against England at Manchester (3/127). His contribution with the bat at the Oval though small was of immense value on the out come of the match. He came at No9 with the score at 59 for 7 in the first innings. Fazal Mehmood was soon out to make it 77 for 8 but the last three wickets Zulfiqar, Shuja and Mehmood Hussain added 56 runs to raise the total to 133 Shuja batted almost two hours for 16 Not out. Shuja in the second innings opened with Hanif and again batted steadily. On this tour he was third only to Fazal Mehmood and Mehmood Hussain in the number of wickets claimed (67) and only Kardar and Maqsood held more catches than him.

Later against the visiting MCC team in 1956 he scored 147 and claimed 6/71 for Pakistan services XI at Sargodha and in the first un official test at Lahore took 5 for 33.

Earlier during the visit of Newzealand 1955-56 he recorded remarkable bowling figures of 33 overs, 19 maidens, 4 wickets for 35 runs and also scored 47, which paved way for Pakistan’s victory at Karachi. He again bowled steadily both at Lahore and Dacca tests in that series.

Shuja was not included in the team which played in the solitary test against Australia at Karachi in 1956 and was also over looked for the tour of West Indies in 1957-58. But he again performed creditably well as soon as the opportunity came. In the low scoring test match against the visiting West Indies team at Dacca in 1959 he contributed usefully to bring Pakistan victory along with late Wallis Mathias. Denied a chance to play in tests on the tour India in 1960-61 he still topped the tour bowling averages with 21 wickets at 18.52 runs apiece.

Later Shuja also played in test matches against ERB Dexter’s England team which visited Pakistan in 1961-62 and bowled economical long spells at Dacca and Karachi. He was then in his peak form and had claimed 47 wickets in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches in 1961-62.

He was also one of the choice to lead Pakistan on the tour of England in 1962 which ultimately was led by Javed Burki and resulted ill fated. He also led Pakistan Eaglets to England. His career spanned over 8 years and 19 test matches between 1954 to 1962. After his retirement from first class cricket he served the cause of Pakistan cricket admirably in various capacities. He was manager of Pakistan team that toured Australia and West Indies in 1976-77. He will be long remembered as a fighting gusty cricketer.

Career at a Glance:

First Class: (1946-70): 3,342 runs (24.75) including 6 centuries and 298 wickets (22.44)
Test Matches: (19) : 395 runs (15.19), 20 wickets (40.05) and 8 catches.

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2006 smyaserrafique@yahoo.com)