Batting style Right-handed Tests umpired 1 (1955) Name Masood Salahuddin | Role Cricket Umpire 1953-54 to 1958-59 Railways | |
Born 24 December 1915 ( 1915-12-24 ) Merath, Pakistan Died March 21, 2006, Lahore, Pakistan | ||
1934-35 to 1940-41 United Provinces Bowling style Right-arm medium-fast | ||
Masood Salahuddin (24 December 1915 – 21 March 2006) was a Pakistani cricket umpire. He stood in one Test match, Pakistan vs. India in Karachi in 1955.
He had a long playing career in first-class cricket as a pace bowler, beginning in the Ranji Trophy in 1934-35 for United Provinces, and continuing after independence of Pakistan as captain of Railways until 1958-59. He took 21 wickets at an average of 18.80 for United Provinces, including 6 for 62 against Bengal in 1939-40. He played two matches for India against the visiting Australian team in 1935-36. For Railways his captaincy was more important: beginning his career there at the age of 37, in 10 matches he bowled only 102 overs and took 12 wickets at 24.41, and sometimes made useful runs in the lower order, 275 at 17.18.
Although he had never umpired in first-class cricket, had just captained North Zone against the Indians a few days previously, and was one of the Test selectors, he was called upon to umpire the Fifth Test in the 1954-55 series, with the approval of the Indian team. He explained: "The umpire got ill and we had no reserve ... I was an official with the railways and had played cricket. But with no umpiring experience I was asked to stand in a Test." He may have been being diplomatic: his obituary in Wisden gives the reason for the emergency as "a row over the appointed officials", and adds that he "showed his mettle" when he gave Abdul Kardar, the Pakistani captain, out stumped for 93.
He was assistant manager of the Pakistan team in England in 1954, and managed the tour of England in 1971.
He studied architecture at University College London. He died after a road accident in Lahore.