Shaharyar Khan, a distinguished career diplomat and former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), passed away at 89. His contributions to restoring cricket ties between Pakistan and India during the early 2000s were significant. Hailing from Bhopal, India, Shaharyar Khan, who was also a cousin of former Indian cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, breathed his last on Friday after a prolonged battle with illness.
Shaharyar Khan served as Pakistan’s foreign secretary from 1990 to 1994 and held key diplomatic positions as a High Commissioner in New Delhi and the United Kingdom. His tenure as the chairman of PCB spanned from 2003 to 2006, during which India toured Pakistan twice and later from 2014 to 2017.
Having managed Pakistan’s team during the 1999 tour of India and the 2003 Cricket World Cup, Shaharyar Khan’s connection to cricket was deeply rooted. Belonging to the royal family of Bhopal, he was a seasoned diplomat and an accomplished writer, penning several books on his experiences in foreign relations and cricket.
In a candid interview last year, Shaharyar Khan expressed his regrets over his last tenure as PCB chief. He was unable to revive regular bilateral Test cricket ties with India, which have remained suspended since 2007 due to strained relations between the two neighboring countries.
During his term as PCB chairman, one of the most notable controversies was Pakistan’s forfeit of the Oval Test against England in 2006, for which he held the then captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, responsible. Shaharyar Khan later voiced concerns about Inzamam’s inclination towards introducing religion in the team.
Mohsin Naqvi, the current PCB chairman, extended his heartfelt condolences on Shaharyar Khan’s demise. Speaking on behalf of the board, Naqvi acknowledged Khan’s impeccable administrative skills and unwavering dedication to Pakistani cricket.
“Pakistan Cricket will forever be indebted to the late Shaharyar Khan for his remarkable leadership as the head of the board and his invaluable contributions to the growth and development of the game in our country,” said Naqvi, paying tribute to the late cricket administrator.
