Jamil Rana - The Unmistakable Charm

The walled city of Lahore, that originally had thirteen Darwazas (gates) for various purposes, in the bygone era, embraced the game of cricket in the first quarter of the 20th century.

Though a typical Punjabi youth was better known to take up more macho sports, i.e. wrestling or kabaddi but after the establishment of Lahore Gymkhana by the ruling British in 1878, the native working-class population of the city too, fancied itself in cricket whites.

In British India, one such middle-class household in Mohallah Kucha Chughattian inside Mochi (previously Moti) Darwaza was for many decades, the hub of cricket, inside the walled city of Lahore. The historic significance of it could have easily been lost had Jamil Rana, arguably one of the strongest surviving links with cricket in Lahore, was not at hand to share his memoirs. One was reminded time and again that the feature should focus more on preserving the legacy of the game than his own personal association.

Ever since his contribution to The Wounded Tiger (2014), Rana has shared some delightful stories of the early days of cricket in Lahore, including Lala Amarnath’s stay with the family and his progression from Crescent CC to his selection for Hindus in the 1929-30 Lahore Tournament, Test debut at the age of 22 against England at Bombay in 1933-34 and then go on captain India. Having grown up within walking distance to the likes Abdul Hafeez, Nazar Mohammad, Gul Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmed, etc. Lala accompanied by his two sons - Mohinder and Surinder touring Pakistan with the 1978-79 India side -made a point of paying homage to the house in Mochi Gate.

Mohammad Jamil Ahmed Rana, born in Lahore (Punjab), British India on April 22, 1936, is a natural story teller and thus able to paint a beautiful picture of the game in his home cityand other surrounding districts in Punjab. A sharp memory, coupled with attention to minor detail of cricket and the cricketers, sets him apart from his contemporaries. No wonder Rana’s annual summer visit to England, is eagerly awaited by cricket enthusiasts of Pakistan origin.

The game of cricket entered this particular household through Rana Tawakkal Majeed (1898-1981), youngest of the three sons of Mohammad Deen, a Railway foreman. Rana recalls, ‘I recall our house inside Mochi Darwaza, in my childhood, and its vibrant atmosphere. The comings and goings of people reflected a guest house and myself and other siblings could not help appreciating the exposure we got at such an early age. As one of the few houses that had running electricity at the time, we had the likes of Mian Nizam-ud-din (grandfather of Mian Yousuf Salah-ud-din), Dr. Tufail Bukhari (grandfather of Salim Altaf and Naeem Bukhari), Dr. Ghulam Mohammad and Dr. Farooqi, amongst very few Muslim families to study medicine, regularly popping in for their studies. I don’t want to miss out Dr. Dilawar Hussain, a delightful human being. I believe our household was blessed.’

On his father Tawakkal Majeed’s cricket, Rana, ‘I opened my eyes to see both religion and cricket being paid equal attention, by my father. A wicket-keeper batsman, he would also captain Islamia HS, Bhaati Gate, in the days when one’s pockets would get filled up with small coins by the appreciative crowd. I vividly recall watching him bat in an annual match between Europeans and Indians in Shimla in 1946. The Annandale Ground also served as the landing for Tiger Moth planes that flew in with daily post from Delhi for Lord Wavell, the viceroy of British India. My father was fond off both cut and hook shots and I watched him face fast bowler Mohammad Nissar at Islamia College, Lahore ground.’

He added, ‘My father, addressed as Haji Sahib was what I would term as a ‘noble soul’, so gentle and kind to all and sundry. His older brother Ibrahim financed Crescent CC, whereas he himself took over the running of the club. The supportive role played by my mother and grandmother too deserve mentioning for without their hospitality for cricket personalities that visited our household day in day out, it would not have been the same atmosphere. It was a real privilege for us as a family to be associated with the most renowned cricket club in Lahore that originated from Mochi Darwaza. Our rivals Mamdot CC too was from the same area. The Crescent CC was just like a family with lot of respect for each other’s ability. A number of players in the squad, including Gulzar Mir, Mohammad Ramzan and Ustad Gul Mohammad - were Railways employees. I also recall Amir Elahi, Qamar-ud-din, Khadim Hussain, Mirza Muzaffar Baig, Shahab-ud-din, Wali Mohammad, who often opened with Haji Sahib and Hasan Shah, the captain of Crescent CC.

On his own cricket journey, he added, ‘I did not need to go far for inspiration to take up the game. We seem to have more cups, medals and trophies than kitchen crockery for Crescent was one of the most successful clubs in Northern India. Looking back, in the front room of our house which we referred as bethak (sitting room), the discussion more than often was to do with cricket. One evening in the 1945-46 winter, Khawaja Abdu Rab, who too lived inside Mochi Darwaza and ran Friends CC, invited me in an u-10 team, for my first ever match that was at Aitchison College Ground. I wore shorts for that game and after a couple of overs of my batting, the game was over. My first competitive match would be as a class VIII student at Muslim HS against Sind Madrassah from Karachi at the Central Model HS, ground in Lahore.’

Rana also recalls the rebuilding and growth of club cricket in Lahore, following the migration of Hindu and Sikh players and administrators to India, in the first decade of Pakistan’s existence, ‘As you know Minto Park, is a mere walking distance from our old house and its vast playing area, catered for most of Lahore cricket clubs’ nets in the evenings. Prior to 1947, Crescent and Mamdot fought for ultimate supremacy in Lahore. Universal, regained strength through the dedicated efforts of Q.D. Butt, a Railway officer, and attracted students of leading colleges, i.e. Mahmood Hussain, Waqar Hasan, Fazal Mahmood, Shakoor Ahmed, Sultan Mahmud, Safdar Hameed, etc. They would practice in a ground, behind Assembly Chambers, that no longer exists before moving to Gari Shahoo. The other two well-known cricketers, Khan Mohammad and Shuja-ud-din chose to represent Friends CC.’

He continued, ‘Chuberjee Gymkhana launched itself with the first generation of Pakistan children of the government officers that had their quarters in Chuberjee area. Khawar Butt is the name that comes to mind who excelled in that club. If memory serves me right, Pakistan one-down star batsman Saeed Ahmed, started with Krishan Nagar Gymkhana before moving to Universal. Imtiaz Ahmed and Rafi Nasim were with Ravi Gymkhana and Free Batters was established by Latif Butt. Nazar Mohammad was the star opening batsman for Mamdot and despite its rivalry with Crescent, would come and ask my father for a ‘blessed’ bat, prior to any big match. Chaudhry Rasheed organised Pioneer that was the off shoot of Crescent, made up from players, like myself that could not make it into the senior club. The players that featured in the early days of Mozang Gymkhana included wicket-keeper Khursheed Ahmed, Khalid Ibadullah and Shaukat ‘Gadi’. Cantt Gymkhana had a gentleman by the name of Okasha and emerged, not so long after Pakistan’s independence.’

He further added, ‘I am witness to the Lahore club cricket being at its strongest and healthiest in the 1950s. The efforts of Qazi Rehmatullah, a registrar in Government’s irrigation department with assistance from my father who too worked in the same section, resulted in assembling a team that had its nets and played matches at Government Printing Press Ground. The high schools in Lahore that were at the forefront in producing quality cricketers, included Central Model HS, Muslim Model HS, Islamia (Bhaati Gate), Muslim HS, Mozang HS, Chishtian HS and St.Anthony’s.’

Although a touch late to take up the game whilst at Muslim HS, Rana after doing his matriculation in 1952, earned enrolment in the prestigious Government College, Lahore, on sports-basis. He played under Waqar Hasan in the period Islamia College had an edge in the traditional inter-collegiate rivalry in the city. In this period he came under the influence of Nisar Ahmed, a wicket-keeper of repute who had represented Southern Punjab in Ranji Trophy, prior to 1947 and was now a Railways employee. Jimmy recalls his association, ‘I was thrilled to attend the early morning fielding practice at Carson Institute along with Khalid Ibadullah and Mohammad Yousuf, amongst others. We all owed him so much and he was so dedicated and selfless, the type of people Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could do with. As a first year student at Government College (1952-53) Nisar had sharpened our skills so much that I managed to run out Saeed Ahmed, Altaf Hussain and Munawwar Hussain (my maternal uncle) in the trial matches held at University Ground, Lahore.’

On the strength of his success in the Wazir Ali Summer League, the 20-year old Rana, was invited for the trials of Punjab Cricket Association team to tour England in 1956. Besides Pakistan Eaglets team that had toured every summer since 1952, the cricket Board was keen to groom young talent by agreeing coaching at Alf Gover’s school and matches in the English conditions.

In his words, ‘On the day of the trials, I had my doubts over my selection as I was asked to face the new ball though I was a middle order batsman. My father left before the trials fearing the worse. Perhaps the selectors – Syed Wazir Ali, Dr. Jehangir Khan, Dr. Dilawar Hussain and Q.D.Butt - had wanted to embarrass me and then exclude me from the touring party. I was asked to face just six balls – one each from Fazal Mahmood, Yawar Saeed, Ghafoor Butt, Shakoor Rana, Shaukat Gadi and Zaka-ud-din – and then replaced by the second batsman. I rushed home in disappointment only to be surprised in the evening, by the news of my inclusion in the touring squad. A week before the trials, I had scored 56 for Government College against Lahore Gymkhana that had featured Fazal Mahmood, Shuja-ud-din and Khalid Qureshi and had felt in good nick.’

‘On our arrival in UK the whole squad spent a fair amount of time at Alf Gover’s coaching school in London. In that period Pakistan batsman Maqsood Ahmed visited us and asked the management to allow him to take few players, including myself, for his testimonial match in Staffordshire. In that game I ran out three batsmen to the great appreciation of my team mates, including India’s G.S. Ramchand. I scored a fifty against Lord’s Taverners at Lord’s and had an enjoyable tour with Punjab Cricket Association team, led and managed by Mohammad Amin ‘ Billy’.’

Rana decided to stay in U.K after the tour and found a job in Road Research Laboratory in Langley, Bucks (now Berks). In 1957 he would agree to play for Ealing CC as a middle order batsman and medium-pace bowler. He represented the club for four summers with considerable success with bat and in the same period also played in the Sunday fixtures of Pakistan Wanderers - a team made up of fellow countrymen who were engaged with various clubs and Minor Counties in U.K and would feature Shaharyar Khan, Shuja-ud-din (umpire), Fazal Mahmood, Khan Mohammad, Mahmood Hussain, Ikram Elahi, Javed Burki and Asad Jehangir Khan. Rana’s innings of 106 with a pre-planned assault against off-spinner Bob Appleyard, who had taken seven wickets against Pakistan at Nottingham in the 1954 Test, prompted Mahmood Hussain to carry him on his shoulders.

After his return from UK, prompted by his mothers’ ill health, Rana won selection for the Lahore squad for the inaugural Ayub Trophy, in 1960-61 winter. Led by Khalid Qureshi, Lahore was the losing finalist which Rana missed due to low scores in the first three matches. At that stage with his focus on career with Royal INSURANCE (IGI), his cricket was restricted with Lahore Gymkhana (the year you joined 1962), whom he would also lead and served as its secretary for 18 years. His request for the renovation work to Nawaz Sharif then Finance Minister of Punjab was accepted in the 1981-82 period. Salim Altaf, Talat Ali and Ramiz Raja, were some of the Test cricketers who played with Rana at LG

In the first (1975-91) of his two spells as secretary of Lahore Gymkhana, Rana helped Nawaz Sharif, later to become three times Prime Minister of Pakistan, acquire membership of the club. The pair often batted together at Bagh-e-Jinnah in ‘friendly’ fixtures and in 1987opened the batting against England’s World Cup squad. His second stint as a secretary of the prestigious club was 2006-08. His return to first-class cricket, after a lapse of 15 years, saw him lead Lahore A in the 1975-76 BCCP Patrons’ Trophy. He top scored with 46 in his team’s total of 190 against Dawood Industries that featured

Imran Khan and leg-spinner Mohammad Sabir but failed to save his side from a first-round defeat at Bagh-i-Jinnah, Lahore. His last appearance at this level too ended on a sour note when Lahore C were beaten by Bahawalpur in the opening round of the 1975-76 Punjab Tournament.

Lahore Gymkhana toured Malaysia/Singapore in 1979-80 and later England in 1982. He did not accept any position with the cricket Board although came very close in umpiring the Lahore Test against Australia in 1979-80. Rana’s younger brother Khalil Rana, orthodox slow left-arm, appeared in 14 first-class matches, after making his debut for Pakistan Combined Schools against the 1954-55 Indian tourists, at Karachi Gymkhana.

Outside cricket, Rana is Secretary General of Tug-of War (Pakistan) and vice-President of South Asian Tug of War body. Rana has two sons – Tauseef and Tauqir – and a daughter from his marriage and at 87 is in good enough shape to divide his time between Pakistan, England and USA.