Saeed Ahmed was born on 1st October 1937 in Jullundur (now Jalandhar) during British era. He was one of the ten children of Inayatullah Ahmed, who in his later years served as Labour Officer at the Pakistan High Commission in London. Although he himself was a keen follower of the game, Inayatullah wanted Saeed Ahmed, to take up Engineering as a career. He had taken up cricket while at Central Model High School, Lahore. But his batting exploits both at Islamia College and Government College (where he passed his B.A in 1961) were clear signs of his sports-oriented mind. By then he was also a regular member of Universal Cricket Club in Lahore.
SAEED AHMED
Born on 1 Oct 1937
Died on 20 Mar 2024
Pakistani First-Class Cricketer
In 1954-55, at the age of 17, he had entered into first-class cricket, while representing Punjab against NWFP at Peshawar in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and scored 63 runs in his team’s only innings of the match. During the same season an Indian team visited Pakistan to play a bilateral test series. He was selected for Pakistan Universities to play against them at Punjab University Ground at Lahore, where he made only 0 & 5 in two innings. Then he appeared for Punjab against the same team at Jinnah Park (now Jinnah Stadium) where he scored 29 and after following on 42 in the second innings of the match. Later he played against Combined Services in the semi-final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy at Punjab University Ground in Lahore. He remained unbeaten with 24 runs in the first innings and was not required to bat in the second innings.
In 1955-56, New Zealand cricket team arrived in Pakistan for a bilateral test series. He was chosen in the Pakistan Prime Minister’s XI to play against the tourists at Dring (now Bahawal) Stadium at Bahawalpur. He scored 43 & 38 not out in the two innings of the match. The same season a MCC team also visited Pakistan to play a series of representative matches. He was selected in the Railways & Balochistan Combined XI at Old Fort (now Ibn-e-Qasim Bagh) Stadium at Multan, where he made 27 & unbeaten 44 in the match. Due to the touring of these two teams no trophy was held in this season and he was confined to just two first class matches this season. In the summer of 1956, he also toured England with the Pakistan Eaglets Cricket team.
In 1956-57, he again appeared for Punjab in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. He scored only 169 runs at 28.16 runs apiece, with the highest score of 43 runs in five first class matches. In the summer of 1957, Saeed Ahmed attended the six-week University Training camp organized by the Pakistan Sports Board. He was lucky enough to attend the camp because at the time of the preliminary selection of the team for the Bahawalpur training camp, he was not so sure that he would be selected. It was however through the counsel of the other selectors and the strong recommendation of the Skipper AH Kardar himself that he was included.
In 1957-58, it came as a surprise for him, when he was not considered for the Punjab team in the initial matches of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. When given the opportunity, he made the most of it with an unbeaten hundred (120 runs) against Punjab (B) at Punjab University Ground, Lahore. This innings also assured him a place in the Bahawalpur training camp and a step towards his ambition to represent the country at the highest level. The camp was an ideal preparation for a twenty-year old youngster hoping to embark on a major overseas tour, he utilized the three-week training period in Bahawalpur in learning to control his natural inclination to hit the ball. The physical training also helped him to build up his stamina with the result that though on the West Indies tour he played all the matches, the strain did not tell on his health. It is interesting to mention that Saeed Ahmed was picked for number-three slot, which meant he was to compete with Waqar Hassan, who had been an instrumental figure in his formative years. It was Waqar Hasan who persuaded Saeed Ahmed’s father to let his son continue with the game. From the very start of the West Indies tour, he outscored his senior colleague and cemented his place for the next decade. His incredible consistency in all the five Test matches, it became impossible to ignore Saeed Ahmed. He started off with 54 against Barbados, and continued his run-spree with dashing stroke-play. In the fourth Test at Georgetown he reached his maiden hundred and was finally out for 150 in his team’s total of 408. As opposed to senior batsman Hanif, Saeed Ahmed had showed lot of courage against the pacers. In the final Test Saeed Ahmed missed his hundred by three runs, although on this occasion it had contributed to a match-winning total. Regardless of the situation, he would not curb his natural aggression, and what a pleasant sight he was on the tour. He was without question find of the tour.
In 1958-59, he started the season with a three day first class match, which was played to generate fund for Red Cross. While playing for President’s XI against Chief Commissioner’s XI at National Stadium in Karachi, he scored 41 runs and his batting the second innings was not required. He was appointed Captain of the Pakistan Universities, who led his team in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and scored 82 & 23 against Pakistan Railways at Punjab University Ground, Lahore. In rain affected match against Lahore at the same venue, he made 21 runs in his team’s only innings. Then he appeared for Punjab University in the Pakistan Inter-University Championship, which was granted first class status this season. He scored 140 runs in his team’s only innings and helped his team to register a huge total of 702 all out against Sindh University at Bohra Gymkhana Ground, Karachi. In the final against Karachi University at Karachi Gymkhana Ground at Karachi, he made only 1 & 56 in the match. During the same season West Indies cricket team toured Pakistan for a bilateral series. He appeared in all three test matches and scored 199 runs at 39.80 with the highest score of 78 runs. In the summer of 1959, he again toured England with Pakistan Eaglets Cricket team.
In 1959-60, Australians arrived in Pakistan for a test series at the start of the season. In the first test at Dacca (now Dhaka) Stadium, he made 37 & 15 in a low scoring match. But in the second teat at new Lahore (now Gaddafi) Stadium that he played his most memorable innings for Pakistan. The home side had lost the opening Test and a similar fate awaited the home side at Lahore, when they finished 245 runs behind on the first innings. In their second innings Pakistan was 87-2 when Shuja-ud-Din joined him for their historic partnership that almost saved the game. The pair defied the opposition attack for more than five hours and added 169 runs for the third wicket. It was a questionable leg-before decision against Shuja-au-Din that separated the two. His partner Saeed Ahmed who had batted throughout the fourth day was dismissed early on the final morning. While stretching forward to left-arm spinner Lindsay Kline, he lost his balance and was stumped. His marathon effort worth career-best 166 lasted for 460 minutes and included 19 fours. During the last Test at Karachi, he scored 91 & 8 in two innings and reached thousands runs in only his 11th Test, a record that has not been battered by any Pakistani batsman so far. Soon after the series was over, he led Lahore in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. His performance during this competition was not up to his standard and scored only 63 runs at 12.60 runs apiece with highest score of 34 in four first class matches. Soon after, he appeared for Fazal Mahmood’s XI against Hyderabad Chief Commissioner’s XI at Municipal Gardens Ground at Hyderabad, where he scored 20 & 8 in the match. This match was organized by Hyderabad Divisional Cricket Association to raise funds for Niaz Stadium at Hyderabad. At the end of the season an Indian Starlets XI toured Pakistan to play representative matches. He appeared for Combined XI against the tourists at Lahore (now Gaddafi) Stadium, where he made 51 runs in the first innings and his services were not required in the second innings. Later he played for Montgomery District XI against the tourists at Montgomery (now Zafar Ali) Stadium and scored only 20 runs in the first innings and did not bat the second to end the season.
In 1960-61, he toured India with the Pakistan team. He once again finished as the most confident and polished Pakistani batsman. He hit two sparkling hundreds in a test series that was marred by defensive tactics from both sides. In the first Test at Bombay, his made 121 runs and added 246 runs for the second wicket, then a record for Pakistan, with Hanif Muhammad (160). During his innings he was hit on the head by RB Desai and the ball flew to the boundary. He did not even bother to rub and hooked the very next ball for a six. He also scored hundred in the fourth Test at Madras, which clearly indicated that who was spotted as a cricketer of class in West Indies, is now a finished article, an experienced, balanced, fully-organized cricketer who must reign in the cricket scene for a long time to come. Overall, on the tour he scored 765 runs at 42.50 with highest score of 127 not out in 11 first class matches. On the domestic front, he did not appear for any team in first class matches.
In 1961-62, he appeared for PIA against the visiting Associated Cement Company at Karachi Parsi Institute Ground and scored only 14 runs in his team’s only innings. Soon after the series was over, MCC team arrived in Pakistan for a test series. He appeared for Punjab Governer’s XI against the tourists at Gymkhana (now Bohranwala) Ground, Lyallpur (now Faisalabad). His performance in this match was blow at par and he scored 0 & 6 in the match. In the first test at Lahore (now Gaddafi) Stadium, he made 74 & 0 in the match. After that he appeared for Karachi Whites against Karachi Greens at National Stadium, Karachi in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he retired hurt in the Karachi Whites first innings having scored only 1 run. Then he played for Pakistan in the second test at Dacca (now Bangabandhu) Stadium against the MCC, who arrived in Pakistan for their second leg after playing a test series with India. He scored 69 & 13 in the match. In the final test at National Stadium at Karachi, he made 16 & 19 to end the test series. Later he was selected in the International XI for World tour, where he played in three first class matches and scored 17 & 0 against Rhodesia at Kitwe, 21 & 16 against Rhodesian Invitation XI at Salisbury and 149 against East Pakistan Governer’s XI at Dacca. Back home, he appeared for PIA in the Ayub Trophy. In the match against East Zone at Dacca Stadium at Dacca, he scored unbeaten 127 runs in his team’s only innings. In the semi-final match against North Zone Lahore (now Gaddafi) Stadium, he made (105 & 102) hundred in each innings. In the summer of 1962, his maiden tour to England in 1962, with Hanif Muhammad struggling because of injured knee, he had an opportunity to outshine the ‘Little Master’. But his technical deficiencies on English wickets proved his downfall. His basic fondness for cross-batted strokes, square of the wicket on either side did not prove effective. He was also found wanting on the balls leaving the bat. Though his tally of 302 runs in the five-Test was second only to Mushtaq Muhammad, the general opinion was to the effect that Saeed Ahmed with better application was capable of taking his team out of crisis. One of his three fifty-plus scores in the fourth Test at Nottingham, helped Pakistan to save the match. But Javed Burki’s doomed side lost the series 4-0. It was during this tour that Saeed Ahmed was reported to have established some friendships outside the cricket scene that coincided with the downward graph of his batting skills. After the England tour he got married to Salma Ahmed, a leading businesswoman in Karachi, by whom he had two daughters and a son. With her powerful influence in the affluent society, he was introduced to the political scene. Once he had become a cricket star, his lifestyle became extravagant for a man of relatively poor background. In Karachi he joined City Gymkhana Cricket Club, in order to stay in touch with the game in the off-season. He was keen on making the most of it while he was in the limelight. Marrying Salma, a shrewd and intelligent woman helped Saeed Ahmed to excel in public relations and in the subsequent business ventures. In no time he was being considered as one of the leading industrialist of Karachi.
In 1962-63, he appeared for his department PIA in the Ayub Trophy. His performance during the tournament was not up to his reputation, where he scored just 117 runs at 29.25 runs apiece with highest score of 61 runs in 3 first class matches.
In 1963-64, a Commonwealth XI visited Pakistan to Un-official test matches. He was included in the BCCP XI, who played against the visitors at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad and he made 72 & unbeaten 51 in the match. In the first un-official test at National Stadium at Karachi, he scored 19 in his team’s only innings. In the second un-official test at Lahore (now Gaddafi) Stadium, he made 81 runs in his team’s only innings. In the final un-official test at Dacca Stadium in Dacca (now Dhaka), he scored 100 & 26 to end the series. Soon after the series was over, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy was started. He appeared for Karachi Whites against Quetta at National Stadium, Karachi and he scored 117 runs and helped his team to score a huge total of 671 all-out. In the next match was a semi-final against Lahore Greens at the same venue, where he scored 37 runs in his team’s huge total of 547 runs all-out. In the final against Karachi Blues at National Stadium, he made 24 & 17 and took 1-60 & 4-54 in the match to end the season.
In 1964-65, he appeared in a friendly first class match for Pakistan XI against Pakistan Railways at National Stadium in Karachi. In this match, he scored 24 & 27 besides taking 3-9 & 2-17. The Australians arrived in Pakistan to play a solitary test. He played at National Stadium in Karachi and scored 7 & 35 and took 3-41 & 0-25 in two innings. He on the twin tour of Australia and New Zealand, despite his below average form in the Test matches was able to reach the 1028 runs at 42.83 runs apiece in fourteen first-class games. But it was his activities off the field that were catching the headlines. Being a Vice-Captain, he could have set a better example, but instead he turned into a very difficult individual. During the tour his wife Salma also joined him, despite the tour guidelines stating to the contrary. It was only the direct intervention of the then Finance Minister that stopped the tour manager, Mian Muhammad Saeed from sending Saeed Ahmed back home. The same season New Zealanders paid a return visit to play three test match series. He appeared in all the three test matches. During the final Test at National Stadium, Karachi, he delighted the crowd in scoring the highest score of his test career, 172 in 350 minutes with 18 fours & 1 six. This was another example of his domination over the bowling, on a pitch where sideways movement was negligible.
In 1965-66, he appeared for Karachi Whites in a postponed Quarter-final of the previous year Quaid-e-Azam Trophy against Dacca at Dacca Stadium in Dacca, where he scored 23 runs in the first innings and his batting was not required in the second. This was his only appearance in the Pakistan domestic season. However, he played in a three day first class match for MCC against Surrey at Lords in 1966 season in England.
In 1966-67, he started the season for Karachi Blues in a postponed Semi-final of last year Ayub Trophy against PWD at National stadium, Karachi and scored only 14 runs in the match. Then he played for Pakistan in three Representative matches against the visiting Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) cricket team. He scored 39 runs & 3-48 (0-5 & 3-43) in the first match at Lahore, 43 runs & 10-130 (5-48 & 5-82) in the second match at Dacca and made 0 & 0-20 (0-1 & 0-19) in the final match at Karachi. After that he led Central Zone against the touring MCC Under-25 at Sahiwal (now Zafar Ali) Stadium, where he made 26 & 61 besides taking 3-91 & 5-60 in the match. He also led President’s XI at Pindi Club Ground (now Army Sports Stadium) against the same team and scored 28 & 19 besides taking 1-50 & 0-20 in the match. In the summer of 1967, he toured England with the Pakistan team. The highlight of another disappointing tour, were his two memorable knocks (44 and 68) on a rain-soaked pitch, in the second Test at Nottingham. By scoring 44.09% of his team’s dismal match-aggregate of 254 runs. Overall on the tour he scored 845 runs at 33.80 runs apiece with highest score of 147 runs and took 13 wickets at 50.15 with best of 5-38 in 15 first class matches.
In 1967-68, he appeared for Punjab Governer’s XI in a traditional fixture against Punjab University at Bagh-e-Jinnah Ground in Lahore, where his two good knocks of 42 & 103 besides taking 3-34 & 1-18, earned a victory for his team. Then he played for Karachi Blues in a postponed final of 1965-66 Ayub Trophy. His contribution of 44 runs helped his team to pile up a huge total of 611 all-out in the first innings. While bowling his off spin, he took 1-55 & 2-57 in the match. After that he played for Pakistan XI in friendly first class fixture against The Rest at Sahiwal (now Zafar Ali) Stadium and scored 0 & unbeaten 16 batting at number-nine. However, he remained wicket-less with figures of 0-21 & 0-24 in the match. Later he appeared for Karachi in the postponed Semi-final of last year Quaid-e-Azam Trophy at National Stadium, Karachi. He scored 53 and took 3-23 & 1-15 in the match. His next match was the final against Pakistan Railways at the same venue. In this match, he besides scoring 105 runs also took 3-54 & 2-75 and helped his team to lift the glittering trophy. After that he played in a friendly fixture for Khairpur Commissioner’s XI against PWD at Parade Ground (now Municipal Stadium) in Sukkur. He scored 5 & 0 in two innings and surprisingly he did not bowl in the entire match. This year he led Karachi Blues in the Ayub Trophy. In the match against Karachi University at National Stadium, he scored 19 runs and took 3-67 on a rain affected wicket. His next match was against Pakistan Railways at National Stadium, where he scored only 2 runs and took 2-45 & 1-32. In the semi-final against East Pakistan Greens at the same venue, he made 10 runs besides taking 3-29 & 2-10 to end the match. In the final against Rawalpindi at Pindi Club Ground (now Army Sports Stadium), he made 16 runs and took 2-16 & 5-53 and clinched the Ayub Trophy. During the season an International XI toured Pakistan. He was included in the BCCP XI, who played against the tourists at National Stadium, Karachi. He gave a splendid all-round performance by scoring 36 & 97 and took 5-39 & 1-81 in the match. Soon after, a Commonwealth XI arrived in Pakistan to play representative matches. In the first match at Qasim Bagh (formerly Old Fort) at Multan, he made 5 & 28 and remained wicket-less with figures of 0-29 & 0-1 in the match. In the second match at Lahore (now Gaddafi) Stadium, he scored 50 & 40 but did not bowl in the entire match. In the next match he played for President’s XI at Pindi Club Ground (Army Sports Stadium) at Rawalpindi, where he made 45 runs besides he took 5-68 & 0-16 in the match. In the final match National Stadium at Karachi, he scored 14 & 14 and took 0-43 & 0-25 in both the innings. During the English summer of 1968, he was included in the Rest of World XI and played three matches against Hampshire (6 & 14 and 5-81 & 1-51)) at Bournemouth, Kent ((11 & 2 and 0-35 & 1-31) at Canterbury and against touring Australians (13 & 6 and 2-50 & 0-5) at Lords.
In 1968-69, he played for Karachi in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. In the first match against Khairpur at Karachi Gymkhana Ground, he made 8 runs in his team’s only innings and took 2-22 & 1-35 in the match. In his next match, which was the semi-final against East Pakistan at National Stadium, he made 36 and took 1-45. In the final against Lahore at Lahore (now Gaddafi) Stadium, he was at his best while hitting 192 runs in 442 minutes with 23 fours & 1 six in the first innings and 36 runs in the second innings but remained wicket-less with figures of 0-51 in the match. In the traditional annual fixture, he led Punjab Governer’s XI against Punjab University at Bagh-e-Jinnah in Lahore, where he scored 29 runs and took 6-37 & 0-32 in the match. His appointment as the Captain against the MCC tour of Pakistan this season was being seen as political. In the first Test at Lahore when Hanif Muhammad and Mushtaq Muhammad were doing their utmost to save Pakistan from a defeat, a small section of crowd booed the Muhammad brothers and it was believed that this demonstration was inspired by pro-Saeed Ahmed elements. The Lahore-Karachi rivalry filled many a sports column. It was also an open secret that Saeed Ahmed who had succeeded Hanif Muhammad as the country’s captain was determined to hold the top post at any cost. With no shortage of self-doubts, Saeed Ahmed was determined to cement his position by triggering anti-Hanif demonstration. The Karachi crowd was not going to let Saeed Ahmed get away with it, when the two teams arrived to for the third Test. The previous two Test matches having produced very little bright cricket, the final Test at Karachi scheduled for five-day duration could have settled the series either way. But sadly the game did not even survive three days as the stormy political scene of the city took over. On the first day of the Test match, the Karachi Press splashed the story alleging that Saeed Ahmed had refused to be photographed with Hanif Muhammad the previous evening and that the tension between the two was harming the team’s performance. It was later revealed that Saeed Ahmed had merely suggested obliging after few moments rather than rejecting to pose for a photograph. But he was left with no choice but to issue a statement in an attempt to defuse the uneasiness in the Pakistan camp. The statement issue to the press was also countersigned by Hanif Muhammad. The statement failed to serve its purpose and Saeed Ahmed came out with little credit in a series that was marred by political unrest.
In 1969-70, he was made Captain of PWD, who participated in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. In the first match against Hyderabad Blues at National Stadium in Karachi he scored a superlative hundred 105 runs and took 4-39 & 0-12 in the match. In the next match against lowly rated Kalat at Racecourse Ground (now Bugti Stadium), he crush them with an excellent figures of 8-41 & 4-20 and snatch the victory by an innings & 296 runs margin. In the match against Quetta at the same venue, he again bowled well to capture 4-78 & 1-22 besides scoring 36 and again his team won by an innings & 320 runs margin. In his next match against Pakistan Railways at Railway Stadium in Lahore, he scored two attractive innings of 92 & 140 and took 3-18 in a drawn match. In the semi-final against Sargodha at Bagh-e-Jinnah Ground, he scored 23 & 15 besides taking 0-17 & 2-8 to end the match. In the final against PIA at National Stadium in Karachi, he made 5 & 0 and took 4-41 & 5-80. Soon after the trophy was over, his eventful cricket career took another twist when he was replaced by Intikhab Alam to lead against the touring New Zealand cricket team. The Selection Committee chaired by his first Captain AH Kardar, who did not see him as the right candidate. Shocked at his dismissal his fiery temper took over and he was involved in an abusive slanging match with the Selectors. The next day it was announced by the Board that he had been debarred from playing first-class cricket in and outside Pakistan by the Executive Committee of the BCCP (now PCB). In its emergency meeting, the Board came to the conclusion that the former captain was, ‘responsible for gross misconduct and disorderly behavior soon after his announcement regarding the appointment of the new captain of Pakistan Test team. In the press, he also received very little sympathy for his outburst and was being painted as the Chief Villain in this sad episode. However, the ban was lifted on 26th October, 1969 after he apologized for his irresponsible conduct, but he was not considered for the Test series against New Zealand. Later he was included in The Rest XI, who played against Pakistan XI at Sahiwal (now Zafar Ali) Stadium in friendly three day first class match, where his performance was not up to the mark. He scored 0 & 16 and took 0-55 & 1-40 in the match. Later he appeared for Karachi Blues in the Ayub Trophy. In the first match against Quetta at National Stadium, he made 6 and took 0-31 & 4-70 in the match. In the next match against PWD at the same venue he scored 35 in his team’s only innings and took 4-98 to end the match. In the final round match against Rawalpindi Greens at National Stadium in Karachi, he banged a superb hundred 167 runs in 249 minutes with 18 fours besides taking 3-51 with off-spin bowling. In the final against PIA (A) at the same venue his performance was below at par. He scored only 46 runs and was not required to bat in the second innings while in bowling he took 3-76 in the first innings and did not bowl in the second.
In 1970-71, Rest of the World XI toured Pakistan and played a solitary four day first class match against Pakistan at National Stadium in Karachi. In this match he gave an all-round performance by scoring 56 & 119 besides taking 3-42 & 3-82 and helped his team to a crushing victory by 226 runs margin. Afterwards he appeared for Karachi Blues in the inaugural BCCP Trophy. In the first match against Hyderabad at Karachi Gymkhana Ground, he took 3-26 & 6-32 besides scoring 47 runs in his team’s only innings. He continued his superb form in his next match against PIA (B) at National Stadium, where he scored 76 & 119 besides taking 3-75 in a drawn match. In the semi-final against Lahore Greens at the same venue, he made only 10 runs in his team’s solitary innings and grabbed 1-54 and not required to bowl in the second innings. During the same season an International XI visited Pakistan to play three four-day representative matches. Although he appeared in all three matches for BCCP XI against them but his own performance remain blow at par. He made (8 & unbeaten 77 and 0-50 & 0-16) at National Stadium, Karachi, (19 & 33 and 0-27) at Dacca Stadium, Dacca and (0 & 4 and 2-19 & 0-6) at Lahore (now Gaddafi) Stadium, Lahore. Soon after the series was over, he played in the final of BCCP Trophy, in which he made 52 & 17 and took 1-82 & 1-34 in the match. Soon after, he appeared in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. In the first match against PWD at National Stadium, he smashed his maiden unbeaten double hundred (203) in his team’s only innings besides taking 0-34 & 1-38 in the match. In the next match against NBP at the same venue, he took 4-37 & 3-48 besides scoring 17 runs in his team’s only innings. In the semi-final against PIA (B) at National Stadium, he 19 & 23 and took 3-109 & did not bowl in the second innings. In the final against Punjab University & Lahore Combined team at Bagh-e-Jinnah Ground in Lahore, he made 57 & 56 besides taking 3-94 & did not bowl in the entire second innings of the match and helped his team to clinch the match as well as trophy. More drama was in store on the England tour of 1971, when he not for the first in his career caught the sporting headlines for wrong reason. His attitude on his third tour of England was mysterious to say the least. Time and again he would simply disappear without informing the tour management of his whereabouts. In the eighteen-man squad, he was the most senior player and was also a Member of the Tour Selection Committee. But right from the opening game against Worcestershire, he was back to his old tricks. Having served his country so well at number-three position for the last thirteen years, for some strange reason he refused to take up the challenge on this important tour. However he was to regret his decision as the twenty-three years old PIA batsman Zaheer Abbas made the most of this God-sent opportunity on his opening tour, which left Saeed Ahmed with no place at all in the team. When he was not picked for the first two Test matches, he simply abandoned the tour party without leaving any clues of his whereabouts. He returned to play in the final Test at Leeds, which was best membered for the close contest it was.
In 1971-72, he led Karachi Blues in the BCCP Trophy. In the quarter-final against Hyderabad at Bakhtiari Youth Centre in Karachi, he took 4-68 & 0-37 and scored 35 runs in the match. In the semi-final against Punjab University & Lahore Combined team at National Stadium in Karachi, he scored 169 & 12 besides taking 2-66 & 2-60 to end the match. In the final against PIA (A) at National Stadium in Karachi, he scored 67 & 32 and took 5-95 in the match.
In 1972-73, with Saeed Ahmed’s indifferent attitude on the last England tour not in distant past, Captain Intikhab Alam and co-selectors were not over keen on his selection for the Australian tour. But he left them with no choice by scoring a hundred and taking six wickets in the final trials, he was selected for the twin tour of Australia and New Zealand. In the first Test at Adelaide, Saeed Ahmed was asked to open in the second innings, when debutante Talat Ali had his right thumb fractured by a ball from Dennis Lillee. Not to be overawed by the fiery West Australian, he managed to put on 88 with Sadiq Muhammad before he received a poor lbw verdict. After his gutsy knock Saeed Ahmed was promoted to the opening slot for the next Test at Melbourne. As luck would have it, it proved to be his last Test appearance for Pakistan. In the first innings Saeed Ahmed was forced to retire after receiving a blow on his hand, trying to hook Lillee. He was later to return and take on Lillee to reach a well-deserved fifty. It was in the following couple of days prior to the final Test that Saeed Ahmed fell out with the tour management. The selectors wanted him to continue opening the innings, on what turned out to be a lively wicket. In the previous game, Saeed Ahmed had exchanged verbal pleasantries with Lillee and it was rumored that the incident had left the Pakistan batsman with very little heart. He declined to open the innings and asked the selectors to put him down the order where he had served the team in the past, as he was not fully fit either. His explanation was taken by the selectors as a lame excuse and after an ugly incident he was declared ‘sadly out of form’ and sent back home. It is not to forget that the BCCP President, AH Kardar, with whom Saeed Ahmed never enjoyed good understanding, was accompanying the touring squad. Kardar’s presence did not prove a good omen and when Saeed Ahmed refused to go back home, he was left stranded in Sydney, while the rest of the team flew over to New Zealand. Poor Saeed Ahmed paid a heavy price for confronting the ‘ironman’ of Pakistan cricket. His international career was over as one the country’s leading sportsman was left penniless and without the air-ticket. His political links with the Pakistan Sports Minister came handy, who arranged Saeed Ahmed’s flight back home. The Test career of Pakistan’s most controversial and temperamental cricketer had come to a sad end. Back home from the tour, he appeared in the semi-final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy for Sindh against PIA at National Stadium in Karachi, where he 0 and did not bat in the second innings and took 6-106 and did not bowl in the second.
In 1973-74, after returning from Australia a life-ban was imposed on him to represent any team in domestic cricket. Though the ban was lifted by the kind intervention of the President of Pakistan Sports Board Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, he was named to lead Karachi Blues in the Patrons Trophy in the domestic season, but the old zest for the game had deserted him and he decided to quit. He seemed more concerned with his rubber-goods business in Karachi and in his effort to establish himself in the political scene of the country.
In 1977-78, all of a sudden at the age of 40 he came out of retirement and announced his availability for the Test series against the touring England. With Kardar having resigned as the BCCP President and the country’s leading players signed up by Kerry Packer, he saw it is a good opportunity to come back into the limelight in view of his political ambitions. It was on the strength of his political links that he managed to be selected in a three-day game against the tourists at Peshawar. This also proved to be his last out at the first class level. With no first-class cricket for almost five years, it surprised very few when he looked out of place in the competitive cricket.
Throughout the sixties, Saeed Ahmed was a regular face to be seen English summers for his league cricket and business engagements. In 1965 he stole the limelight in the Lancashire League, when his all-round success (637 runs at 28.95 and 99 wickets at 8.92) helped Nelson to win the Championship by a record margin of 15 points. In the same season he also represented Littleborough in the Central Lancashire League. His own high standards continued in the next summer, but Nelson finished 7th in the table.
His younger half-brother Younis Ahmed also represented Pakistan in four Test matches. Younis Ahmed was a stylish left-handed batsman who was capped by three English counties Surrey, Worcestershire and Glamorgan during his distinguished first-class career. In 1972-73, he also represented South Australia for a season in the Sheffield Shield. Younis Ahmed received a life-ban, lifted later on, as a result of touring South Africa with DH Robins XI in 1973-74. His nephew Samir Ahmed son of Younis Ahmed have also played for Worcestershire (1993), Kent (1994), Essex (1995), Leicestershire (1996) and Derbyshire (1998) in Second Eleven Championships in England.
He was conferred Pride of Performance Award by the Government of Pakistan for his contribution in the field of cricket in 1962. He was also made Honorary Life Member of MCC in 1980. He was one of the CBFS beneficiaries in Sharjah during the Singer Akai Cup in April, 1997. He was also honoured with Gold Medal in a ceremony at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, as part of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Independence of Pakistan in November, 1997.
After quitting his active cricket, it came as a great surprise to see that this colourful cricket personality of the past has devoted him so wholeheartedly to religion. He was a regular face in Islamic gatherings throughout the world.
He passed away on 20th March, 2024 at Lahore after a long fight with illness.
