Miandad was one of the biggest patriots I have seen: Imran Khan

Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan termed his former teammate Javed Miandad as the “biggest patriot on the field” and revealed he feared Miandad would kill an on-field umpire during a hard-fought Test in Bangalore in 1987.

Khan was speaking at a public rally where he called on the “Mohajirs (those who migrated from India after the 1947 partition) to join his Tehir-e-Insaaf party and called Miandad as “the fighter of highest quality amongst Mohajirs.”

“Miandad’s family had migrated from India so he is a role model for Mohajirs. I have not seen a bigger patriot than Miandad and he was a fighter on the field, ready to do anything for his team and country,” said Khan.

“Miandad was also a Muhajir but he always stood by me. Whenever I got into trouble, Miandad would step up. He was one of the biggest patriots I have seen.”

Khan referred to the hard-fought Bangalore Test of an otherwise dull five-match series in 1987, the last Test for Indian maestro Sunil Gavaskar.

Batting by choice on a spinning track, Pakistan were bowled out for a paltry 116, with left-armer Maninder Singh taking 7-27. Spinners Iqbal Qasim and Tauseef Ahmed took five wickets each to dismiss India for 145.

Pakistan pulled off a sensational 16-run win after India were set a stiff 221 to chase. Gavaskar became a thorn in Pakistan’s way with a gritty 96 as Qasim and Tauseef took four wickets each

Khan said the tension was very high and each time Indian umpire Ram Gupta and V.K. Ramaswamy turned down an appeal Miandad would give them a stare as if he would kill them.

“I feared that Miandad will kill an Indian umpire today as appeals after appeals were turned down. Miandad was very angry so I was frightened that he would kill the umpire so I tried my best to pacify him.”