ISLAMABAD/LAHORE (APP)- Famed cricket commentator Munir Hussain, 83, died of cardiac arrest on Monday. Veteran commentator was considered to be the founder of the Urdu cricket commentary. Iqbal Munir, his son, told that his father died of heart attack. His funeral will be offered later in the day, he added.
Hussain, who was born in November 1929, had earned many accolades during his distinguished career spanning over several decades. He was declared as Best Urdu Commentator of the Decade Award (1985-95), the Lifetime Achievement Award from Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, PCB’s World Cup Legends Award presented on the 10th anniversary celebrations of Pakistan’s victory in the 1992 World Cup among others.
Cricket commentary on radio and TV was always done in the English language in Pakistan until 44 years ago when the airwaves carried a new voice treating listeners and viewers to cricket commentary in Urdu. The voice behind the microphone may have sounded alien initially but it wasn’t long before Munir Hussain became a household name among the lovers of the gentlemen’s sport here.
Urdu commentary gave Munir Hussain a new identity and bigger scope. Apart from serving as president of Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA), he also launched his very popular Urdu cricket magazine Akhbar-i-Watan some 36 years ago along with building lasting friendships with many of our cricket stars. Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad said Hussain was a credit to the game. “Hussain had a fan following of his own and served the game with distinction,” said Miandad in his message to the family.
Meanwhile, acting Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Subhan Ahmad and Director General Javed Miandad have condoled the death of veteran journalist and broadcaster Munir Hussain.
The PCB hierarchy and its entire staff prayed to Allah Almighty to bestow the departed soul with eternal peace and grant the family and the dear ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. Pakistan Sports Writers Federation (PSWF) president Shahid Sheikh, secretary Amjad Aziz Malik and members, Sports Journalists Association of Lahore (SJAL) president Syed Ali Hashmi, secretary Ch M Ashraf and members, ex-PCB chairman Khalid Mehmood, Azhar Zaidi, ICC umpire Aleem Dar, Abdul Razzaq and Imran Nazir, former LCCA chief Khawaja Nadeem Ahmad, secretary Mian Javed Ali, treasurer Sarfraz Ahmad and cricket related persons, clubs organisers and others also offered their heartfelt condolences over the sad demise of the veteran journalist.