Majid Jehangir Khan of Cambridge University, Glamorgan and Pakistan was a regal presence on the cricket field. He exuded a langorous air of relaxation, time to play and sometimes almost boredom. When my family moved to South Wales from India in 1975, Majid was a legend in the coalfields and valleys there - they adored him and flocked to see him in their thousands at Sophia Gardens. He was one of those sportsmen touched with genius - nothing was impossible for him yet he remained enigmatic and unpredictable to the end. Tony Lewis, another Glamorgan stalwart, never used to tire in his commentating days of recounting the story of how Majid once batted in the nets only with the edge of his bat to prove a point to the rest of the team. Strangely enough, my other batting hero of that era, Barry Richards, used to have similar stories recounted about him. The thing which strikes me watching him now is the economy of movement, especially playing the hook shot - like all the best players he played the ball as late as possible with perfect timing. As a boy on the cusp of adolescence and as an Indian who had never seen him play because Pakistan did not tour India in those days I worshipped him and in Wales once looked up his name in the telephone directory and phoned him. He wasn't in but his shy and unassuming cousin answered and I told him to pass on my best wishes to the great man - he promised to do so - I asked him his name and he said Imran.
Excellent! I became a great fan of Majid from another angle. I'm Welsh, my grand-dad taught Majid's father Jahangir Indian history and went to see him play for (All) India before independence. Of course Majid was an even greater hero in my eyes for choosing to play for my birth county Glamorgan. He had hammered a brilliant century v Glamorgan when touring with Pakistan. He was as much a bowler in his youth but stopped when his action was questioned and then occasionally bowled spin. Imagine what an all-rounder he might have been! I was always glued to the TV when he was batting and loved watching him in 74 v England, when I was 13.
Biswadip Dasgupta what a wonderful story thank you sir for sharing your wonderful memories heartiest respect from Pakistan for you and your family . I Wish things get better soon for our two neighbourly countries for future generations to come so they can live in peace and harmony for ever inshallah.
i came here because Basit Ali repeatedly mentions majid khan in his shows on his RU-vid channel . 'Great Majid khan' its how he takes his name and now after seeing dis i agree with him.
He was a vegetarian, didn't even eat eggs. Very well educated and a thorough gentleman. No fussy reactions like kneeling down after scoring big runs. Pakistan cricket and nation need more people like him.
Those were the good days, no fuss, no fist patting after a four hit and no Pak players kneeling after a century. ( You can thank Allah inside your heart no need to make an exhibition in front of the whole world) Now you see Pak player running without shoe laces tied up, players not wearing spike shoes and slipping and falling into their stump , players to lazy to see if the ball across the boundary and getting run out, so many Pak players can't even speak English and need an interpreter to translate ( An even when they do speak like Sarfraz, it's a laugh) Pakistan team are like keystone cops, an embarrassment to the nation. Pakistan as a nation that is going backward whilst countries like India, China and UAE are advancing into the 21st Century and Pakistan still living in the dark ages thanks to mullahs and the the religious fanatics.
You guys keep living in inferiority complex of English language. For your kind ignorance, majority of world does not speak English. Try to get out of colonial slavery. As far as Pakistan going to dark ages, you are utterly ignorant of the ground reality. It is India that is going backwards. Lastly, there is nothing wrong 8n open bowing to God. Here in USA, may athletes public ally demonstrate their Christian faith during games.
