Karachi: "I have lost a good friend", said Pakistan's Prime Minister and former cricket captain Imran Khan as he led the country in paying tributes to spin legend Abdul Qadir, who died in Lahore after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Qadir, who would have turned 64 on September 15, died before he could be brought to a hospital.
"I have lost a good friend and a wonderful cricketer who served the country so well," Imran said in his condolence message.
The cricketer-turned-politician said Qadir's death was a shock to him.
Imran played an instrumental role in turning Qadir into a household name as it was under his captaincy that the leg-spinner flourished to secure many Test and one-day victories for Pakistan, including a 9 for 56 in one Test against the West Indies at Faisalabad in 1986.
Wasim Akram called him a "magician" while Shoaib Akhtar said that he will forever be "indebted" to Abdul Qadir as current and former cricketers paid homage to the spin legend, who died on Friday after suffering a cardiac arrest in Lahore.
"They called him the magician for many reasons but when he looked me in the eyes and told me I was going to play for Pakistan for the next 20 years, I believed him. A Magician, absolutely. A leg spinner and a trailblazer of his time. You will be missed Abdul Qadir but never forgotten," Akram, who played in the national team alongside Qadir, recollected.
"Sad news mate! Loved watching him bowl," responded Australian speedster Brett Lee in a tweet quoting the one posted by Akram.
Akhtar, one of Pakistan's most fearsome fast bowlers, put out a video message in which he expressed his gratitude towards Qadir for backing his selection when he was the head of the panel in 2009.
"I would forever remain indebted to Qadir bhai as he supported me in 2009. He fought for my comeback even when I wasn't fully fit as he believed that I can win matches for Pakistan. The revival of leg spin in cricket is completely credited to him. He inspired a generation of bowlers to take up leg spin. My heart goes out to his family," Akhtar said.
The death was also condoled by cricket stars in India.
"Shocked to hear Abdul Qadir passed away. Met him two years back he was full of energy as always..A champion bowler, great human being, you will be missed forever...condolences to the family," tweeted off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.
Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed also expressed his sorrow.
"Absolutely shocking news to hear the sad passing Legend Abdul Qadir saab. May Allah SWT grant him the highest rank in jannah and his family the patience to bear the loss," the skipper tweeted.
Another former skipper Shoaib Malik also paid homage to the legend.
"My heart goes out to the family of our legend Abdul Qadir saab, May Allah give him the highest level of Jannat and may people always remember him with love and the highest level of respect in this world, Ameen," Malik tweeted.
