Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi’s cousin and former PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan dies Cricket News

Shaharyar Khan, a career diplomat and former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board who was instrumental in reviving cricketing ties with India in the early 2000s, has died. He was 89 years old. The Bhopal-born Pakistani diplomat, who was a cousin of former India captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, died here on Friday after battling a long illness . He served as Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary from 1990-94 and as High Commissioner to New Delhi and the United Kingdom. Shahryar served as PCB chairman from 2003 to 2006 (when India visited Pakistan twice) and from 2014 to 2017.

He also served as the Pakistan team manager during the 1999 tour of India and the 2003 Cricket World Cup. He belongs to the royal family of Bhopal.

Shahryar, an erudite man who has also written several books on his experiences in foreign relations and cricket, in an interview last year expressed concern about his failure to recover from his final tenure as PCB chief. Expressed regret over regular bilateral cricket Test relations with India. It has been suspended since 2007 due to tensions between the two neighbours.

Perhaps the biggest controversy during his tenure as PCB chairman was Pakistan’s Oval Test match loss to England in 2006, which he blamed on then captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Shahyar later expressed concern about Inzamam’s push to introduce religion into the team.

Current PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi also expressed condolences on Shaharyar’s death.

“On behalf of the PCB, I express my deep condolences and sorrow on the passing away of former chairman Shaharyar Khan. He was an excellent administrator and served Pakistan cricket with the utmost dedication.

“Pakistan Cricket Association will continue to be grateful to the late Shaharyar Khan for his commendable role as Chairman of the Board and his contribution to the growth and development of cricket in the country,” Naqvi said.