Mazhar Khan receives ICC Life Time Service Award- A Proud Hyderabadi

It is a moment of immense proud and delight for Hyderabadi that one more son of the soil has brought laurels to the city and made us proud in the international circuit.

I am sure, when Mazhar Khan saheb would have arrived in the Emirates in 1975, cricket would have been a casual pastime for a few expatriates.  But over the past 35 years, and with his help, the UAE has established itself as a cricket hotbed. International cricket became synonymous with Sharjah, and the game achieved an even higher profile as the grounds at Abu Dhabi's Zayed Cricket Stadium and Dubai Sports City became part of the landscape.

Mazhar Khan saheb, 59, was recently conferred a Lifetime Service Award for his "exceptional performance and services" by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It's a great feeling for all of us when our own brother gets recognition for his work in UAE. I am, indeed very much happy and delighted for this honour bestowed on Mazhar Khan saheb.Infact,  this award is a tribute to all those involved in developing cricket in the UAE.

Mazhar has filled many roles for UAE cricket. He captained the Air India Sports Club in Dubai in the early 1990s, and played a strong administrative role in developing and promoting cricket. His passion, energy and commitment to the game are legendary. Mazhar Khan saheb kept a low profile himself, but his work and contribution to the sport is there for everyone to see. Mazhar saheb also served as director of the ICC's executive board and as director of Asian Cricket's executive board.

As a wicketkeeper batsman he did play a lot of competitive cricket in his youth in Hyderabad and represented Lingampally in A Division league. He is the product of St. Georgeous High School Abids, Hyderabad.

He was just out of college and with all his friends gone, was thinking what he would do next. He had some family members in Sharjah at that time and he also heard some cricket was played there. So his passion for the game took him to UAE. Mazhar saheb found employment in a subsidiary of the Bukhatir Group. That brought him close to Abdulrahman Bukhatir, the former Emirates Cricket Board (ECB)chairman who was instrumental in making Sharjah an international venue. Mazhar Saheb played in the Bukhatir League, the premier inter-Emirate tournament, from its second year in 1975. He has been at the helm of the ECB since June 1996. He was entrusted with some administrative matters in cricket and that's how he started and made it really big. As we all know that Sharjah has been the pioneer in starting organised cricket in the UAE.
The game was played with a lot of passion and there were very good players, most of them flown in by companies especially to play cricket. Now we know who is the person behind the Cricket in Sharjah. All the best Mazhar Bhai and we would like to see him bringing many more laurels to our city.