In remembrance of Oval Test match of 1954

Tomorrow the third cricket test match between Pakistan and England is to start in Birmingham. It would be followed by the fourth and final test at the famous Oval ground of London which brings to mind the nostalgic memories of the fourth test match played 62 years ago at the same ground almost on the same dates back in 1954 between a Pakistani cricket team which was then billed by the British press as babes of international cricket and England and which was won by us by 24 runs. With that victory against the mighty England side which was at that time considered to be the best cricket team in the world Pakistan gained the status of test cricket. It was Fazal Mahmood who had mesmerised the England batsmen with his leg cutters which were unplayable. In that test he had got 12 wickets and he was the architect of our victory. A room has been named as Fazal Mahmood room in the Oval ‘pavilion in remembrance of his superb bowling performance in that test match.
Many members of that team like Skipper Kardar, Khan Mohammad, Alimuddin, Maqsood, Fazal Mahmood, Mahmood Hussain Shujauddin, Zulfiqar, to mention a few are now gone If I correctly remember only Hanif Mohammad, Waqar Hasan and Imtiaz Ahmad are alive today. Hanif, known as little master because of his short physical stature holds record of playing the longest innings in test cricket against the West Indies in 1957-58. He stood at wicket for more than 16 hours and saved Pakistan from follow-on and a possible innings defeat. He had scored 337 runs then. The famous Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar used to say that Hanif was his role model and he copied his style. He used to open Pakistan’s innings with Alimuddin. Waqar Hasan was a stylish one-down batsman while Imtiaz Ahmad was the first wicket keeper of Pakistan, besides, being a very dashing batsman.
They are all octogenarians now and in the autumn of their lives. The TV channels and Radio Pakistan would do well to telecast their special interviews during the dates when the fourth test match between Pakistan and England is played at the Oval after a couple of days. To hear the first hand account as to important events of 1954 test between these two countries from the mouth of the players who were part of that important match would be quite interesting and informative for the cricket buffs of this country.