Pir of Pagaro VII

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Sayyid Shah Mardan Shah-II (

Usually referred to in cricket literature as the Pir of Pagaro, he was influential in the early years of Pakistan's cricket development in the 1950s. Before Pakistan's first tour of England in 1954 he had a grass pitch constructed in his garden so that the Pakistan players, who had to play most of their cricket at the time on matting pitches, could practise in something similar to English conditions.^[12] He re-founded the Sind Cricket Association,^[13] captained Sind in the first-ever match in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in November 1953,^[14] and organized and captained a team under his name against the MCC in 1955-56.^[15]

Death

Pir Pagara was admitted to Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) on 24 November 2011, for the treatment of infected lungs. According to doctors, he was in a very serious condition and was therefore put on a ventilator and flown to London on a special air ambulance on 5 January, along with a physician and family members.^[16][17]

He died on 10 January 2012 due to a liver infection, his body was returned to Pakistan on the following day. Many political parties in Pakistan, including the Hurs, sent their condolences to the family.^{[18][16][19][20][21]} He was buried in his native Pir Jo Goth village alongside his ancestors.^[22][23]

He was succeeded by his son

• Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi
• Hurs

References