I remember it in super-slow motion. India vs. Zaheer Abbas (avg 87.0 in 19 Tests). The ball is going to hit the stumps in the next frame….Zaheer Abbas, or his bat, are not even in the picture. The next instant, the flash of a blade, and the most exquisite of late cuts that I have ever seen. Batting Heroes, Giants, Maestros, whatever you wish to call them. Everyone has memories. Favourites. Players, Innings or even Single Shots (can you ever forget that six in Sharjah). The classical technique of Hanif Mohammad-The Little Master. The Man of Crisis-Asif Iqbal. The flamboyance that was Javed Miandad. The cover drives of Saeed Ahmed, the effortless flicks of wristy Saeed Anwar, one could go on and on.
That is the passion that created this Bat, an opportunity to meet my Cricketing Stars, and to create a snapshot of Pakistan’s Batting History, by capturing their original signatures in one place on a fine piece of English Willow…rather on 250 pieces.
And a pleasure it has been…To sit and talk with the likes of Mushtaq and Sadiq Mohammad asking them about the profusion of talent in their family and with Mudassar Nazar, all the way from Kenya, remembered as well for his Golden Arm as for emulating his father in carrying his bat. With Salim Malik reliving his enthralling exploits of Calcutta. The pure delight when Yousuf Yohanna ended up spending more hours with us than originally planned. The thrill in discussing cricket off-the-field with people who had spent a lifetime on-the-field.
And last, but never the least, there was Inzamam ul Haq, fresh from the heady heights of his team’s Indian glory. If there was anticipation in waiting for the cricketers to come for this project, there was hyper-anticipation in his case. From the 1992 World Cup where he showed his class to his present day “backbone” status, he will always be one of my all-time favourites.
From the masterful stroke that perfectly bisects mid-on and mid-off to the gentle dab of a bat and pad, batting is a form of Art…to the Artisans who made our dream come true, a warm and sincere thankyou. I believe, as an avid cricket fan, that a piece of Art has been created that is completely unique. Judge this labour of love for yourself, I present to you…
Batting Legends, the Signature Bat of Pakistan’s Leading Batsmen
Mohammed Yunus
On the inspiration behind creating
the Batting Legends Cricket Bat, Pakistan’s 1st Cricket Memorabilia
