Jahangir Khan (cricketer)

Summary

Dr Mohammad Jahangir Khan pronunciation (1 February 1910 – 23 July 1988) was an international cricketer who played for India during British rule. After the Partition of India, he served as a cricket administrator in Pakistan.[1] He graduated from Islamia College, Lahore.

Jahangir Khan
The 1932 All-India side which toured England.
Jahangir Khan is third left on back row.
Personal information
Full name
Dr Mohammad Jahangir Khan
Born(1910-02-01)1 February 1910
Basti Ghuzan, Jalandhar, Punjab, British India
Died23 July 1988(1988-07-23) (aged 78)
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast medium
Relations
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 3)25 June 1932 v England
Last Test15 August 1936 v England
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class
Matches 4 111
Runs scored 39 3,327
Batting average 5.57 22.32
100s/50s 0/0 4/7
Top score 13 133
Balls bowled 606 8,314
Wickets 4 328
Bowling average 63.75 25.34
5 wickets in innings 0 12
10 wickets in match 0 2
Best bowling 4/60 8/33
Catches/stumpings 4/– 82/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 9 May 2020

Cricket career edit

Dr Mohammad Jahangir Khan hailed from a Pashtun family that is famous in cricket for producing three Pakistan captains: Imran Khan, Javed Burki and Majid Khan, the last being Jahangir Khan's son. Majid's son Bazid Khan also represented Pakistan for the first time in 2005, making the family the second, after the Headleys to have three consecutive generations of Test cricketers.[citation needed] Baqa Jilani, the brother-in-law of Jahangir Khan, also represented India in Test cricket.[citation needed]

Jahangir scored 108 on his first-class debut and took seven wickets in the second innings of the match. He represented India in her first ever Test against England at Lord's in 1932. After the tour, he stayed back in England and took a doctorate from Cambridge University. He passed the final Bar from Middle Temple. In that time he was Cambridge blue in cricket for four years. He also made two appearances in Gentlemen v Players matches. In 1935 playing for Indian Gymkhana, he also scored 1380 runs in two months, at an average of 70.[citation needed]

When India toured England in 1936 he joined the team and appeared in all three Tests. His best bowling during his time at Cambridge was a 7 for 58 against the champion county Yorkshire. Back in India, he played in the Bombay Pentangular in 1939. Jahangir was to captain India in a tour of Ceylon in 1940–41 that was cancelled due to the war.[2]

Selector edit

Jahangir was a selector between 1939–40 and 1941–42. After moving to Pakistan after 1947, he served a selector in Pakistan and managed the team that toured India in 1960–1961. He was a college principal and then served as the Director of Education in Pakistan before retiring. When Jalandhar hosted its first Test match in 1983, Jahangir was specially invited to attend the match. In his younger days, he was also a champion javelin thrower of India. He represented India in AAA in 1932 and British Empire Games 1934 in London.[citation needed]

Death edit

At the time of his death, he was the last survivor from the team that played for India in his first Test.[citation needed]

He was buried in his hometown.

The Lord's Sparrow edit

Khan played cricket for Cambridge University and during a match at Lord's Cricket Ground on 26 July 1936 against the M.C.C. he bowled a delivery to Tom Pearce that struck and killed a sparrow while in mid-flight. The sparrow was mounted on a plinth with the ball that killed it and is now on display at the M.C.C. museum. Neil Robinson, head of heritage and collections at the M.C.C. said "People expect to see balls, bats and gloves at the museum, not a sparrow" and "Those who don't know the story are always surprised."[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Jahangir Khan". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  2. ^ Indian Express, 25 July 1988
  3. ^ "Sparrow killed in a cricket match makes a flying visit". www.nhm.ac.uk.

External links edit