Raja’s burial withheld by local authorities
August 25, 2006
LONDON: The family of former Test star Wasim Raja wants to bury him in England but it would only happen in a few days as local authorities are insisting on a post-mortem.
Raja, who apparently died of a heart attack while playing for Surrey Over 50s at Marlow in Buckinghamshire, is survived by his English wife Anne, and sons, Ali and Ahmed. His family wants a proper Islamic burial in London, a city which Raja made his home as soon as possible, but authorities have told them that a post-mortem is necessary since he died on the cricket field.
Raja, 54, was a flamboyant batsman and a handy spinner during an illustrious Test career in the seventies. He is counted among the legends of Pakistan cricket and has left millions in Pakistan and elsewhere in the world mourning his untimely death.
Several former Test cricketers paid glowing tributes to Raja saying that he was one of the best cricketers of his era and a true gentleman.
International Cricket Council (ICC) President Percy Sonn said: “This news has left me deeply shocked and saddened and I would like to express my sincere condolences to Wasim’s wife and family”.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Sonn said: “I did not know Wasim personally but what I do know is that the game has lost a great servant, a true entertainer and someone who played with a flair that only a player with real talent can display”.
“The proof of that talent is there for all to see in the fact that his finest series was against the great West Indies side of the late 1970s, and anyone who made runs against that line-up at that time could play,” he remarked. “After he stopped playing at the elite level he remained involved through his role as an ICC match referee and we should all be grateful for the work Wasim did for the betterment of the game we all love,” he added.
Raja, who apparently died of a heart attack while playing for Surrey Over 50s at Marlow in Buckinghamshire, is survived by his English wife Anne, and sons, Ali and Ahmed. His family wants a proper Islamic burial in London, a city which Raja made his home as soon as possible, but authorities have told them that a post-mortem is necessary since he died on the cricket field.
Raja, 54, was a flamboyant batsman and a handy spinner during an illustrious Test career in the seventies. He is counted among the legends of Pakistan cricket and has left millions in Pakistan and elsewhere in the world mourning his untimely death.
Several former Test cricketers paid glowing tributes to Raja saying that he was one of the best cricketers of his era and a true gentleman.
International Cricket Council (ICC) President Percy Sonn said: “This news has left me deeply shocked and saddened and I would like to express my sincere condolences to Wasim’s wife and family”.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Sonn said: “I did not know Wasim personally but what I do know is that the game has lost a great servant, a true entertainer and someone who played with a flair that only a player with real talent can display”.
“The proof of that talent is there for all to see in the fact that his finest series was against the great West Indies side of the late 1970s, and anyone who made runs against that line-up at that time could play,” he remarked. “After he stopped playing at the elite level he remained involved through his role as an ICC match referee and we should all be grateful for the work Wasim did for the betterment of the game we all love,” he added.
