Former Pakistan cricketer and international umpire passes away

Former Pakistan cricketer and international umpire Mohammad Nazir, popularly known as Nazir Jr, passed away in Lahore at the age of 78 years. He was battling a prolonged illness.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) offered heartfelt condolences to Mohammad Nazir’s friends and family.

The PCB is saddened by the passing of former Test cricketer and umpire Mohammad Nazir. He represented Pakistan in 14 Tests and four ODIs from 1969 to 1984, taking 37 international wickets. He also officiated five Tests and 15 ODIs as an umpire. PCB offers its heartfelt… pic.twitter.com/ktBGvHdbuM

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 21, 2024

Mohammad Nazir was born on March 8, 1946, in Rawalpindi. He played international matches between 1969 and 1984. After ending his cricket career in the 1987-88 season, he became an umpire. Between 1994 and 2000, Nazir was an international umpire. 

Mohammad Nazir shined on his Test debut

During the 1969 Karachi Test, which was the last Test of Pakistani great Hanif Mohammad and his younger brother Sadiq’s Test debut, Nazir made his international debut. After scoring a valuable 29 not out in the first innings of that Test, which was the highest score in his Test career, Nazir claimed a seven-wicket haul during New Zealand’s first innings (7/99), which were also his best bowling figures in a Test innings. 

Nazir was the first Asian bowler to record a seven-wicket haul on Test debut. Also, after Fazal Mahmood (claimed seven-wicket hauls twice before Nazir), Nazir became the second Pakistan bowler to record a seven-wicket haul.

The off-spinner Nazir took 34 wickets in 14 matches in his Test career. He claimed five-wicket hauls three times. On the other hand, after making his ODI debut in 1980, Nazir took three wickets in four ODIs. 

Complete cricket career

Nazir took 829 wickets after playing 180 first-class matches, including 63 fifers and 16 10-wicket hauls. In his List A career, the off-spinner picked up 35 wickets in 29 games with two four-fers. 

Unlike his Test career, Nazir was a useful batter in his first-class career. In 257 innings, the right-handed batter scored 4242 runs with an average of 22.20, including two centuries with his highest score of 113 not out. He also had an 18.42 batting average in his List A career by scoring 258 runs, with his highest score of 38 runs. 

Unfortunately, Nazir had never been a part of Pakistan’s winning sides during his international career. His international career ended with 11 draws and seven defeats. 

Umpiring career

In his umpiring career, Nazir was an official on-field umpire in 15 international matches (4 Tests and 11 ODIs) and an official TV umpire in five international games (1 Test and 4 ODIs). He worked as an on-field umpire during the 1997 Asia Cup Final between Sri Lanka and India at Colombo (RPS), where Sri Lanka won by eight wickets.