World pays homage to ‘the maestro’
The cricket fraternity has come together in unison to pay tribute to former Pakistan leg-spinner Abdul Qadir, who passed away at the age of 63 due to cardiac arrest on Friday night.
From Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, all took to their social media handles to pay tribute to the late cricketer.
The Pakistan Cricket Board announced his demise on their official Twitter account, calling him a “maestro”.
Former Pakistan leg-spinner Abdul Qadir was widely regarded as the man who brought wrist-spin back from the dead in the 1970’s and 80’s.
Qadir was also a pioneer of the art of wrist-spin in limited-overs cricket. Long before it became the fad that it is today, Qadir was letting googlies rip in ODIs. He played important roles in Pakistan’s World Cup campaigns in 1983 and 1987, during both of which they made the semifinals, picking up 24 wickets in 13 matches.
Qadir made his Test debut against England in Lahore in 1977 and went on to play 67 Tests, taking 236 wickets with a best of nine for 56 against the same side in 1987.
Those figures are still the best by a Pakistan bowler in a Test innings.
He also took 132 wickets in 104 one-day internationals, with former Pakistan captain turned Pakistan Prime Minister Imran using him as an attacking weapon in the 1983 World Cup held in England.
“Qadir’s bowling statistics do not do justice to his genius. Had he been playing cricket now with the modern DRS system, where batsmen can be given out on the front foot as well, Qadir would have gotten as many wickets as the great Shane Warne,” said Khan.
A national icon, Qadir was Pakistan’s hero during their tour of England in 1987, when they picked up their first series win in the country. His contributions included a match haul of 10 for 211 in the fifth Test that helped Pakistan keep their lead intact and win the series.
England had always been left spellbound by Qadir’s magic, so much so that ahead of their 1982 tour of the country, Imran Khan, the then Pakistan captain, and the man under whose leadership Qadir produced many of his finest Test performances, urged a then-26-year-old Qadir to grow a goatee as a way of adding to his mystique and further beguile the Englishmen.
By the time he finished his career, Qadir had 21 wickets in England, his most in any country outside home, and 82 wickets against them overall – almost double the number of wickets he got against his next favourite opposition, Australia, against whom he had 45 wickets in 11 Tests. Qadir also enjoyed great success against the legendary West Indies team of the 1980’s, winding up with 42 wickets against them.
Qadir kept the torch alight for a generation of leg spinners to come, among them a man no less than Warne, who himself went on to become a leg-spin wizard. Warne took time out to visit him at his home in Lahore after being advised to do so by his captain Steve Waugh during their tour of Pakistan in 1998-99.
In his book, Shane Warne’s Century: My Top 100 Test Cricketers, Warne had written of Qadir: “One of the most interesting nights of my life was at Qadir’s house when we sat on the floor and flipped an orange to each other with different grips and forms of spin and discussed tactics and how to sum up batsmen. That was an education and a very good night between two spinners.”
What they said
Abdul Qadir was a genius, one of the greatest leg spinners of all time. And he was also the life of the dressing room entertaining the team with his wit & humour.
--Imran Khan
Pakistan Prime Minister and former Pakistan captain
I think a lot of people who bowled leg-spin, like I did, he was the guy who we looked up to in the eighties. He was the main leg-spinner in that era. He was a terrific bowler who bamboozled a lot of batsmen. His record is a terrific one.
--Shane Warne
Australia’s legendary leg-spinner
They called him the magician for many reasons but when he looked me in the eyes & told me I was going to play for Pakistan for the next 20 years, I believed him. A Magician, absolutely. A leg spinner & a trailblazer of his time. You will be missed Abdul Qadir but never forgotten.
--Wasim Akram
Former Pakistan captain
Remember playing against Abdul Qadir, one of the best spinners of his times. My heartfelt condolences to his family. RIP.
--Sachin Tendulkar
Former India captain
A champion bowler, Great human being, you will be missed forever.
--Harbhajan Singh
Indian off-spinner
Sad news mate! Loved watching him bowl.
--Brett Lee
Former Australia bowler
Extremely saddened by the demise of Abdul Qadir the spin bowling stalwart from Pakistan. My heart goes out to his family and friends.
--Ravichandran Ashwin
India spinner
Sad to hear about the demise of Abdul Qadir. Was always mesmerised by his unique style of bowling and he was one of the best leg-spinners to play the game. Heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.
--VVS Laxman
Former India batsman
Legendary leg spinner Abdul Qadir sb passed away. Just got this sad news. The revival of leg spin in cricket is completely credited to him. He inspired a generation of bowlers to take up leg spin.
--Shoaib Akhtar
Former Pakistan speedster
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