WAZIR ALI, the genuine leader who gave India her first-ever victory.

 

Wazir Ali led India to her first-ever international victory. He led India in two unofficial Tests against Ryder’s Australia in 1935-36. Thereafter it was realized by the collective wisdom of our national selectors that he could not be relied upon to lead India again. The national selectors were Duleepsinhji, Iftikar Ali Khan Pataudi and HD Kanga.

 

Whereas Pavri and Baloo were the products of inter-community cricket, men of the stature of Deodhar and CK Nayudu; Mohammed Nissar and Wazir Ali acted as the bridge between inter-community (Pentangular) and inter-state (Ranji Trophy) championships.

 

Wazir Ali's life was a picture of pathos. The prolific performer for India went over to Pakistan after the partition and died in penury. It is indeed a sad commentary on the cricket administration of both India and Pakistan that they did precious little for a person who was a pillar of strength to the pre-partitioned national team in the 1930s.

 

The man took nothing out of the game he loved the most. Not an extra paise came into his pocket from cricket. By virtue of his deeds he gave plenty to the cause of cricket in India. Yet when the time came for him to bid adieu from active service we could not repay an iota in gratitude. Not that it mattered to him. For he was too upright, too self-respecting to crave for pecuniary benefits, posts and awards.

 

Wazir Ali and his younger brother Nazir Ali were pioneers in one respect. The Ali brothers were the first family members to have played Test cricket together for India. In the inaugural Test at Lord's in 1932 they made their debut and played once more in 1932-33. Nazir also played county cricket for Sussex in 1927 and was indeed fortunate to have received the patronage of the maharaja of Patiala to study engineering in England.

 

Wazir, however, was totally engrossed with cricket. Opinions vary between Jalandhar and Karachi as his birthplace but there is no dispute that he learnt his cricket in the rugged atmosphere of the Patiala palace. Strong of physique and possessing an equable temperament, he was a man for the big occasion. A distinguished personality in his own right. An independent mind that took no part in provincial or communal factionalism. He was way above petty matters.

 

He was one of the few Test cricketers of the 1930s who belonged to no group in particular, although certain sections wanted him to be their leader. Once when certain players stayed out in protest unless Wazir Ali was given the India captaincy ahead of CK Nayudu, Wazir Ali himself was no party to it. He gladly played under CK Nayudu whenever selected.

 

But CK Nayudu himself could not reciprocate as magnanimously. CK and his group declined to play under the leadership of Wazir Ali at Lahore and at Madras against Jack Ryder's Australians in 1935-36. More on the two unofficial Tests later, except to add that Wazir defeated the Aussies on both occasions. The first-ever international victory at cricket for India.

 

Wazir Ali had no time for frills or bickering; none at all for groupism. He played his cricket for India by virtue of his walloping bat. Made runs against all oppositions and under every kind of condition. No crisis overwhelmed him; no opposition overawed him. Reticent and reserved, he preferred to let his bat do the talking. As it should be for all sportsmen.

 

As in death so in life, Wazir Ali never received the recognition he deserved. During his playing days his presence and performance were taken for granted. Mainly because he was a non-controversial man. A man who hated to draw attention to himself. His strong-silent nature was his strength, but in a world of frivolous values it became a distinct weakness.

 

Made his first class debut for the Muslims in 1923 and made an immediate impact with his wide repertoire of powerful strokes. Against Gilligan's M.C.C. team of 1926, Wazir Ali made two centuries.

 

Later in the Quadrangular and the Pentangular championships his prolific prowess fetched no less than 5 centuries. In the 1938-39 Ranji Trophy final against Bengal, the eventual champion, he made a grand 222 not out for Southern Punjab thereby becoming the first double centurion in Ranji Trophy.

 

Impeccably dressed on and off the field, he was universally admired for his sartorial elegance. He was among the first to use a handkerchief as a scarf giving him a dashing appearance. A precursor to the ‘stylish 1960s’ made attractive by the suave presence of  ML Jaisimha, Salim Durani, Tiger Pataudi, Farokh Engineer and Budhi Kunderan.

 

Even the stiff upper lip of Douglas Jardine moved in his praise as a player and a person. Legendary Aussie cricketer Charlie Macartney praised his leadership qualities. Dignified and pleasant, Wazir Ali was a very popular man among the cricketing fraternity of the 1930s. He was as adept at playing the flute. A man of dimensions.

 

On the 1932 tour of England he lived up to the reputation that had preceded him to England. Scored 1725 runs at an impressive average of 33.82 with 6 centuries. In the only Test of the series he was the most consistent batsman with scores of 31 and 39. He and his captain C.K.Nayudu were going great guns at 102 for 2 in reply to England's 259. Just as it looked that India would gain the first innings lead, a disputed decision had Wazir out lbw and the Indians collapsed for 189.

 

In the 1932-33 series at home against Jardine's M.C.C. team he had mixed success. But, by the time Jack Ryder's Australians arrived for an unofficial Test series, Wazir was in his elements. The first two Tests were lost when the selectors decided to give Wazir an opportunity to lead India for the first time.

 

Wazir Ali – so long a brilliant and bold leader for the Muslims, whom he had led to 5 championship titles – had Ryder’s men on the run. This was the match at Lahore which C.K.Nayudu and his men avoided. But far from being distracted, Wazir Ali  led from the front with scores of 76 and 92 and won the Test.

 

The next Test at Madras was won as well by Wazir's men. Thus from zero-two down, the Indians had drawn parity. Wazir's magnificent marshalling of his young team paid rich dividends. He handled the great duo of Nissar and Amar Singh as no one had done before or after him. But true to the scenario of our land the dynamic skipper Wazir Ali was never again asked to lead the national team!

 

Wazir was disgusted with the way the dreadful 1936 tour of England took place and it reflected on his performance. On his return he played first-class cricket in style and splendor till 1940 but by then he had voluntarily relinquished his desire to play in international matches.

 

Wazir Ali opted for Pakistan following the aftermath that heralded our independence. But there he died a disillusioned man in 1950 at just 47 in despair and deprivation. Even the pride of watching his son wear the Pakistan colours was denied to him by fate. The 18 year old student Khalid Wazir played for Pakistan in England in 1954.

 

The stylish, dignified man who never held any rancour against anybody left us in eternal debt. His memory remains a constant reminder of our insensitivity and ingratitude to our former cricketers.

 

Those who have great faith in statistical figures - I personally have very little - would do well to know that India’s most successful captain ever was the one and only Wazir Ali. He led his country in two unofficial tests against Ryder’s Australia in early 1936 and won both. Absolutely 100% win-loss record. Statistically, apart from Ravi Shastri (one win out of one), no other Indian captain is in close range of Wazir Ali.

 

Although Wazir Ali’s two victories had come in unofficial tests, we must be honest enough to admit that Jack Ryder’s Australians were far superior to some of the Test oppositions of the last two decades, whom we keep thrashing with gay delight. And most importantly, many prominent Indian players stayed away from Wazir Ali’s Indian national team because of provincial and communal considerations.

 

Unfortunately the Indian media never acknowledged the undoubted skills of Wazir Ali, the batsman, and more so Wazir Ali, the leader of men. Has any of our cricket historians ever highlighted the fantastic Ali family of three Test cricketers?

 

Let us not forget that the first man who gave India a taste of international cricket victory was a leader who answered to the name of Wazir Ali.