Lucknow: I came across a photograph of Ahmad Mohisin, and it instantly took me down memory lane, reminding me of one of the finest tearaway fast bowlers Uttar Pradesh has ever produced. He was genuinely quick, and many batsmen dreaded facing him.
Mohisin had gone to Aligarh Muslim University to study engineering, but on his return he emerged as a fearsome fast bowler. Blessed with exceptional pace and bounce, he troubled even the best batsmen in Uttar Pradesh, especially on matting wickets where his deliveries became even more menacing.
I vividly remember an incident from 1967 when our team was scheduled to play against his side. Such was the fear he inspired that a few of us went to his house the day before the match and requested him not to play. The soft-spoken and gracious Mohisin Bhai smiled and agreed to our request.
He first shot into the limelight while representing Aligarh University in the Inter-University Tournament at Allahabad, where he returned as one of the standout bowlers. His performances earned him an immediate place in the Uttar Pradesh Ranji Trophy team in 1965. Although he played only one Ranji season, he made a lasting impression. Against Rajasthan at Udaipur, he claimed three wickets and bowled with such pace that he was selected for the Central Zone team the very same year.
Sadly, his cricketing career was cut short by his professional ambitions. Choosing engineering over cricket, he moved to England for higher studies and later for employment. His departure brought a collective sigh of relief to many Uttar Pradesh batsmen who had struggled against his fiery pace. In England, he continued to play a considerable amount of club cricket before eventually moving to Saudi Arabia for work. He returned to India only after his retirement.
Mohisin spent his final years in Lucknow. His younger brother, Asad Ansari, also represented Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy, making the family well known in the state’s cricketing circles.
Ahmad Mohisin will always be remembered as one of the fastest bowlers Uttar Pradesh has ever produced. Though his first-class career was brief, those who watched him bowl will never forget the pace, bounce and fear he brought to the crease.
