Former greats mourned Pakistan's legendary sports administrator Nur Khan on Friday, saying his contributions fuelled the country's success in cricket, field hockey and squash. The 88-year-old Khan, who was also a former Air Marshal in the air force, died in Islamabad overnight.
He served as president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and of the Pakistan Squash Federation. He was credited for bringing the cricket world cup to the sub-continent in 1987 after the first three editions (1975, 1979 and 1983) were held in England. Khan also introduced the idea of a World Cup and the elite six-nation Champions Trophy in field hockey.
"His contribution in bringing the cricket world cup to India and Pakistan was one of his minor contributions," said Arif Abbasi, former chief executive of Pakistan Cricket Board. "His real contributions were in squash and field hockey where he not only built the infrastructure, produced players but introduced main events." Khan also backed a young Jahangir Khan, a world record holder of 10 British open titles who also won six world open titles in squash.
"Under him we had a golden period in cricket, squash and hockey and from Imran Khan to Zaheer Abbas and from me to Jansher Khan he helped develop a lot of players," Jahangir told AFP. "He was the right man between the players and the administration and that's why we achieved a lot of success in sports," he added. Legendary paceman Wasim Akram described Khan as a legend off the field.
"We can't find an administrator like him now," said Wasim. "What he did for sports in Pakistan will always be remembered." "Field hockey is what it is because of him... and because of his contribution Pakistan held Olympic, World and Champions Trophy titles simultaneously," said former 1984 Olympian Hanif Khan.
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