Topliners of Pakistan Cricket Commentary

English , Snippets , Sports - کھیل اور کھلاڑی , / Monday, April 7th, 2025

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A lot have been written and said about Pakistan players on the skyline of game of Cricket, be it PCB officials and other impelling forces who have always been involved in promotion of the cricket in or outside the playing field, in the PCB offices or in the press galleries.
Nobody ever discussed the role of cricket commentators in any debate who equally participated and have been instrumental in the game while sitting in the commentary booths and behind the mic.
Pakistan has produced some exceptional and astounding English and Urdu commentators.
During our childhood we used to listen to the live English cricket commentary on Radio to the mellifluent voices of Greatest of Greats the legends like Omar Quereshi, Jamshaid Marker and Aslam Azhar then the new era begun and after arrival of TV we could relish the voices and expressions of Iftikhar Ahmed, Chishti Mujahid, Tariq Rahim, Humayun Shahzad and Tariq Bucha and last but not least Late Muhammad Idrees Pakistan has also given rise to some extraordinary and amazing Urdu commentators and how can one forget running commentary in vernacular “ Urdu” and few names to mentation are Munir Hussain, Hassan Jalil, Farooq Mazhar and Zakir Hussain and all these historic names are unforgettable.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a single source on the current Pakistani media where I can hear live Urdu commentary of any cricket match. On contrary in India, I could find lot of sources of Hindi commentary.
In fact, I have been following Pakistan cricket since my childhood and it has been very unfortunate and sad that Urdu commentary has disappeared, at least from the television screens, I reckon this to be a terrible loss for those who understand Urdu.
As far English commentary is concerned it is still at its peak. Ramiz Raja and Bazeed Khan are forerunners in the field of English commentary along with few other former cricketers who had seen their peak in the game as well, notable among them are Wasim Akram, Waqar Younus and Aamer Sohail.
In the recent past some new shining faces like Zainab Abbas and Urooj Mumtaz have been added in English commentator’s clan whereas, Urdu commentary box is deserted and parentless.
The only voice audience can hear in Urdu commentary is of Tariq Saeed. All the responsibility has since been thrust upon his shoulders which he accepted and doing up to the mark so far.
I wish media Boffins would back Urdu cricket commentary because most of Pakistan population do not understand English.
I think that following a Pakistan Cricket match with Urdu commentary can elevate and augment to the game itself.

Tahmeed Sadiq
Birmingham – UK