Majid Khan was an enchanting batsman for Pakistan who made his name while still in his teens. His role in Glamorgan’s 1969 County Championship triumph earned him a Wisden Cricketer of the Year award.
Majid Khan played on for Glamorgan until 1976 and for Pakistan until 1982/83. In Tests, he hit 3,931 runs at 38.92 in 63 matches.
In its young life the Muslim state of Pakistan has produced many uncommonly fine cricketers. The titans of the early years have been succeeded by equally brilliant players able to stand comparison with the world’s best. Among them is Majid Jahangir Khan, a sporting thoroughbred raised in Kipling’s ancient city of Lahore, and now the champion of Glamorgan. In October he entered Cambridge University for three years.
Born at Jullundur, in the Punjab, on September 28, 1946, Majid had the considerable advantage of a famous father, an athletic frame and an eye and passion for cricket. Dr Jahangir Khan was a fast bowler for India and Cambridge, and was wont, so legend has it, to lapse into philosophical verse while fielding in the slips on the less successful occasions.
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Asad, Majid’s elder brother, was an Oxford blue in 1968 and 1969, and took seven Australian wickets for 84 with his off-breaks for the combined Oxford and Cambridge XI at Fenner’s. Javed Burki, a first cousin, captained Pakistan in England in 1962 and was a leading Oxford batsman for three seasons.
Father preferred not to coach Majid, but, what was more important, encouraged him to enjoy his cricket at all levels. Despite an inevitable tightening-up of his technique and some professional polishing after two years in the County Championship on top of Test experience, Majid, of the quick eye, darting footwork and challenging disposition, remains an exciting batsman able to achieve a proper balance between attack and defence.
At his first school – St Anthony’s, Lahore – he was considered too small for the team, but Aitchison College (the first Nawab of Pataudi was one of its most distinguished players) took him in the first XI at the age of 13 and kept him there for four years.
Five sixes came in one over against Roger Davis, the off-break bowler. (Odd that a season later Gary Sobers should take six sixes in one over from Malcolm Nash on the same ground.) Majid’s first 100 in 61 minutes was the fastest of the season, and it was small wonder that Glamorgan’s first priority was to induce Majid to join them.
He did so and by mid-season in 1968 was fulfilling Glamorgan’s highest hopes. He ended his first year with 1,258 runs, and it was significant that Glamorgan rose from fourteenth to third place. Back home, Majid often showed splendid form against England in the series wrecked by political upheaval. Once again he did well at Lahore during a crisis, and he emerged, despite all the distracting off-field activities, a responsible and adult Test batsman.
As the 1969 season developed into a triumph for Glamorgan, Majid’s success was synonymous. It became almost an inexcusable cliche to describe his batting as sheer magic, but so often it was exactly that. While it is true that Glamorgan’s victory was essentially one of good leadership, team work and the ability to catch everything above ground, Majid was able to add a glow of inspired individualism. At slip (with no reputation as a verse speaker!) he was part of the close-to-the-wicket quartet of Roger Davis, Peter Walker and Bryan Davis, whose combined stretching hands must have looked like a greedy octopus to the poor batsman.
When he conjured 156 off Worcestershire in the crucial match on a none too easy pitch at Cardiff – an innings which he regards as his best to date – a lilting Welsh voice was heard to exclaim: “I’d pay five bob just to see this chap take guard!” A day later, with the crowd celebrating the final victory, the cry went up “Majid … Majid … Majid.” The recital of a mere name became almost an incantation, a hymn of praise. They were not satisfied until Majid, who wants to be known as MJ Khan at Cambridge, pledged his return to Wales.
He took his adulation calmly. Indeed, with apologies to Colin Cowdrey, his team-mates have dubbed him Kipper because he is so relaxed before he bats. His philosophical attitude to the game undoubtedly helps. “When I go into bat” he says, “I regard it as a personal battle with the bowler. The other ten on the field are his helpers. I always believe the ball is there to be hit, and it is wrong to change techniques for different types of wicket. I feel it is the most certain way to get out to change your methods. I always try and play the way it comes naturally to me. I have been extremely happy with Glamorgan, who are a friendly side. The Welsh people I have found to be marvellously hospitable, and I plan to return to play for three or four seasons after my Cambridge days.”
Tony Lewis, Glamorgan’s captain, regards Majid’s loss, if only temporary, as catastrophic, and it will be fascinating to watch his influence on English university cricket, which is badly in need of a tonic and self-reassurance.
