YOUNG people of South Asia have always idolised test cricketers, and I was no exception. In the summer of 1955, my brother and I were sitting in the train at the Lahore station and waiting to start our journey to Jhelum.

Since there was still some time left for the train to move, my brother got down but soon came bacl( running to tell me he had seen Imtiaz Ahmed talking to one of our relatives. We went over to them quite excitedly and saw a famous test cricketer for the first time in our lives.

Imtiaz was still immersed in the glory of the historic win over England at the Oval in 1954. We never forgot this brief but pleasant encounter with one of the greatest batsmen and wicket-keepers in Pakistan`s test cricket history.

Born on Jan 5, 1928, Imtiaz died in Lahore, also his birthplace, on Dec 31, 2016,justHve days shortofhis 89th birthday. He was one of the fine, humble and patriotic band of cricl(eters, most of them Lahore college graduates, who gave Pakistan such a successful start in test cricket in the 1950s.

As a batsman, he was a magnificent hooker but people in the stands would love to watch him hitting boundaries through sweep shots, to the world renowned spinners such as Sony Ramadhin and Lance Gibbs.

Imtiaz has left behind quite cherished memories of his long and entertaining innings.

Parvez Rahim Karachi