Remembering Qamar Ahmed: Cricket’s Gentleman Historian Who Covered 400 Tests, Met Bradman and Guided Imran Khan

By Sanjay Kishore, Senior Sports Journalist

Published: Thursday, June 18, 2026, 18:46 [IST]

In 2006, while covering India’s tour of Pakistan for NDTV, I met a man in the Lahore press box whose gentle smile belied an extraordinary cricketing career.

That man was Qamar Ahmed.

Qamar Ahmed died on June 18, 2026, after a heart attack, at the age of 88.

His loss is felt not only by cricket journalists but by anyone who treasured the game’s history. Over more than six decades, he documented its greatest moments and personalities.

Born in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh, in 1937, he migrated to Pakistan after Partition. Before turning to journalism, he played first‑class cricket for Sindh and Hyderabad as a left‑arm spinner, famously dismissing the three Mohammed brothers—Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq.

His true legacy, however, lies in his writing.

Qamar began as a freelance reporter in 1963, later contributing to Reuters, AFP and other leading outlets. His reporting was celebrated worldwide for its accuracy, balance and deep understanding of cricket.

In January 2014, while covering the Pakistan‑Sri Lanka Test in Sharjah, he reported his 400th Test match, becoming only the third journalist after John Woodcock and Richie Benaud to reach that milestone. By then he had also covered more than 730 ODIs and eight World Cups.

Numbers tell only part of his story.

During the 2006 tour, I spoke with him several times. What struck me was his perspective: amidst the political and emotional turbulence of India‑Pakistan cricket, he viewed the game through a refreshingly clear lens, believing cricket was always larger than the surrounding noise.

He possessed an endless reservoir of stories.

He recounted advising a young Imran Khan in 1982 during a pivotal leadership transition, and remembered visiting Sir Don Bradman at his Adelaide home, cherishing a signed photograph from that meeting.

These anecdotes were memorable not merely for their historical weight but for the warmth, humility and authenticity with which he shared them.

Even after a lifetime in journalism, his curiosity never waned. His observations remained sharp, his enthusiasm undimmed, and his love for cricket as pure as ever.

Qamar Ahmed may no longer be with us, but his work, wisdom and memories will continue to inspire generations of cricket writers and fans. The 400‑plus Tests he witnessed, the countless stories he told, and the standards he set for cricket journalism ensure his legacy endures.

Cricket journalism bids farewell to one of its finest ambassadors.

A golden chapter has come to an end.

Aunt lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.

Qamar Ahmed, thank you for the stories, the wisdom, and the history.

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