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Hope is a powerful thing. It inspires us to do the impossible and helps us sail through life’s
tumultuous waves. Mr Syed Mahboob Ali Shah is emblematic of unwavering hope and
perseverance. His journey from a supreme cricket player to fighting odds after a severe knee
injury to emerging as one of the renowned umpires in the world of cricket is commendable.
Undoubtedly, he is an inspiration to millions of youngsters out there.

Early Life

Hailing from New Delhi, India, Syed Mahboob Ali Shah was born on 13th October, 1938. He is a
recognisable former Pakistani First Class Cricketer and Test Cricket Umpire. His humble
background, indomitable spirit blended with passion for playing cricket together add to his
success in the field.

Mahboob spent his childhood in Quetta, Balochistan. He is an avid traveller and his love for
exploring new places is contagious. Karachi holds a special place in his life due to the indelible
experiences which left an indelible mark on his mind and soul.

Mahboob had the privilege of visiting Karachi, the first time in 1948 as a student of 7th class.
His school, Hali Muslim High School was situated at Lawrence Road. Then, he got an
opportunity to visit Karachi as a sophomore in 1955. He draws a contrasting parallel between
past and present scenarios. The calmness and harmony of the past vs hustle and bustle of the
present is what Mahboob fondly reminisces about. These alluring memories hold a significant
place in his life.

Coming to his education, Mr Shah holds a master’s degree in LLB and comes from a legal
background. He nurtured his passion as a cricketer later in his career. His remarkable efforts in
representing the country at an International Level cannot be understated. Undoubtedly, he
stands as a testimony to relentless hardwork and determination to help Pakistan Cricket Team
achieve indefeasible feats.

His Tryst With Cricket - Awards and Achievements

“Compromise for your Dream but never Compromise on your Dream.” – Imran Khan
[Former Pakistani Cricket Player & Current Prime Minister of Pakistan]

These words by Imran Khan echo his philosophy of never giving up on one's dreams. Every
person dreams, but a very few take the right steps to live their dreams. Most of us tend to give
up when we encounter difficult situations in life. But, Mahboob Shah’s deep desire and
unquenchable thirst to succeed helped him to make a mark in cricket. Being passionate about
cricket from his youth days, Mahboob Shah kept striving every single day.
Mahboob started his career by playing First Class Cricket from 1954 -1961. In total, he played in
14 first-class matches for Balochistan, Central Zone, Karachi Whites, Karachi C, Quetta and
Karachi University between 1954-55 and 1960-61. Mr Shah represented the Balochistan Cricket
Association and Karachi Cricket Association in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the University of
Karachi in the Inter-University Championship. He reached the Final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy
in 1957-58 with Karachi C, losing to Bahawalpur.

He achieved a batting average of 21.10 in 21 innings, including a high score of 152, his only
first-class century, for Karachi University against Sindh University in February 1960. Along with
batting, Mahboob was a prodigious bowler and his excellence cannot be undermined. As a
medium-fast bowler, he took 12 wickets at a bowling average of 22.58, including 6/14 for
Karachi against India in October 1957.

Due to his impeccable skills as a cricketer, he donned the position of the captain of the
University of Karachi in the Ayub Zonal Trophy. His magnificent figures in batting for Karachi
University and in bowling for Quaid-e-Azam Trophy are truly worth an applaud. He was awarded
the Roll of Honor by Govt College Quetta, Urdu College Karachi and the University of Karachi
as a cricketer.

Mr Shah was on the pinnacle of success where he was highly acclaimed for his outstanding
skills as a cricketer. But, it is rightly said that, “Life is a roller coaster ride which comes with its
own share of ups and downs. It is unpredictable and we cannot plan for what lays ahead of us.
What it teaches us becomes unforgettable memories which lay the foundation for our future”.

His outstanding achievements came to a halt after a tragic knee injury. However, he survived
through the tough times and kept fighting against all odds. Five years after retirement from the
world of cricket, he made his way as an umpire.

Outstanding Career

Judgements and Deliveries: The World Of Umpiring

“Good umpiring is to arrive at correct decisions with or without the use of technology”. -
Syed Mahboob Ali Shah

Umpire plays an instrumental role in determining the state of the game. Informed decisions,
precision, observation, correct judgements, are a few crucial aspects that can be a game
changer in cricket. When Mahboob Shah entered the dynamic world of umpiring after a five year
hiatus, there were many things that shaped him into becoming a better version of himself.

Mr Mahboob Shah’s umpiring career started in 1975 when he became a test umpire. It was the
time when the West Indies was ruling the world of Cricket while Sri Lanka was beginning to
make a mark in Test Cricket. Bangladesh and Zimbabwe had not gained the stature in test
cricket at that time. West Indies fast bowlers were fierce, bold and fearless and their consistent
performance and exceptional bowling skills were unmatchable.

Perception of umpires in those days was appalling. The decision making skills of an umpire
were always seen with a prejudiced eye. An umpire was not looked upon as someone who
could really pass right judgements and make accurate decisions on the field.However, Mr
Shah’s entry in the world of umpiring altered this biased perspective. He made a distinguished
mark as an umpire and gained recognition worldwide for his extraordinary decision making
skills.

Taste of Time: Test Cricket Umpiring

In the initial apprenticeship period, I wanted to be a part of everything on the cricket field.
I saw myself as an umpire on the field. But, at times, I also felt like handling the ball in
play. But, over a period of time, my memories as a player deserted me and a time came
when I started finding it difficult to realise that I too was a player. - Syed Mahboob Ali
Shah

Mahboob Shah made his Test Umpiring Debut in March 1975, in the second Test between
Pakistan and West Indies at the National Stadium, Karachi. Over a period of time, he became a
prominent figure in test matches in Pakistan. He was at the peak of his career from 1978-1990.

In 1994, he and Khizer Hayat, two Pakistani delegates on the initial international panel of
umpires set up by the ICC, were given the responsibility of ensuring unbiased decisions on the
cricket field. The idea was to have one neutral umpire to be the key decision maker for every
test match which was further validated by the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires. The ultimate goal was
to ensure transparency in the game of cricket.

His role as an umpire was integral in many test matches. He culminated his career in Test
Cricket Umpiring in the second test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Trust Bank
Park (aka Seddon Park), Hamilton, in March 1997. His career took a new turn when he
embarked on the journey to headstart ODI cricket matches.

Acing the Beast: ODI Umpiring

An umpire’s accountability is an ongoing process whether a mistake is highlighted or

Someone has rightly said that “Your role is to umpire the ball, not the player”. The ultimate role
and responsibility of the umpire is to carry his emotions on his shoulders and deliver right
decisions irrespective of the nature of the game. The sanctity of cricket as a game can only be
maintained if virtues of authenticity, transparency and righteousness are practised on the field.
Mahboob Shah aced the ODI Umpiring by exhibiting these virtuous qualities as an umpire. The
perfect blend of expertise and judgement defined his personality. He started his ODI debut as an
umpire in the match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot on 16
October 1976.
On 8th November 1987, he got a chance to umpire the Cricket World Cup in India. The
opponents for the match were Australia and England, playing in the finals. In 1996, he got a
chance to umpire the World cup between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He culminated his ODI
umpiring career in the third match between Pakistan and New Zealand which took place at the
National Stadium, Karachi on 8 December 1996.

Remarkable Works

Through the Memory Lane

Mr Shah is highly regarded for his philanthropic nature and virtuosity. Back in the 90s, he
umpired a week-long charity match for the flood relief fund in Bangladesh. He displayed
magnanimity of heart and generosity by donating his entire fee of INR 2000/- for the relief fund.
This kind gesture was well appreciated by the press and his fans.

He also held a position in the ACC’s International Panel of Resource Persons along with
renowned umpires from India and Sri Lanka. The organisation imparts education and training to
umpires belonging to non-test playing countries of Asia.

His contributions to the umpiring literature has paved the way for budding umpires to learn from
his and imbibe his teachings. Undoubtedly, he is a source of inspiration for young players
especially in Pakistan. His core umpiring philosophy sets the backdrop for budding cricket
players who wish to make a mark in the world of cricket.

Pakistan is largely dominated by Urdu speaking residents and the scarcity of Literature in Urdu
language proves to be a huge hassle. The majority of books are curated in English and
therefore, Mr Shah diligently authored numerous umpiring books in Urdu. His immense
contribution to the field of literature cannot be negated.

Apart from that, he got a chance to convert the 1980 Code of the MCC Laws of Cricket into
Urdu and has since then updated at least 6 editions, including the 2nd edition of the 2017 Code,
which came into force on 1st April, 2019. It is widely acclaimed across the world. His work has
been accredited for the most authentic Urdu translations of the Laws of Cricket.