Virender Sehwag on way to his 180 on Saturday

Calcutta: For somebody who wasn’t driven by records, it’s not surprising that Majid ‘Mr Majestic’ Khan doesn’t remember anything about his century before lunch on the opening day of the Karachi Test against New Zealand a shade under 30 years ago.

“I wouldn’t put it down to the passage of time? Just can’t recall how I got the runs that morning (October 30, 1976)? Honestly don’t remember anything,” Majid, now 59, told The Telegraph.

Speaking from Islamabad on Sunday, the morning after Team India vice-captain Virender Sehwag failed by one run to become the first after him to join a truly exclusive club, he added: “I’m sorry he couldn’t make it? Perhaps, Sehwag won’t miss out on the next opportunity?”

Majid Khan

The former Pakistan captain (and Imran’s cousin) has been watching most of the India-West Indies telecasts, but missed Sehwag’s tornado-like innings. It’s a regret.

Almost 130 years of Test cricket has seen only four get a century before the first break. Majid followed Australians Victor Trumper, Charles Macartney and Donald Bradman.

Our very own Farokh Engineer, though, could have beaten the Cambridge Blue had he got six more on January 13, 1967, at the Chepauk versus the West Indies.

The visitors’ attack included Wesley Hall and Charles Griffith.

One of the finest hookers the sport has seen, Majid reached his century off just 77 balls with three minutes for lunch, belting the likes of Richard Hadlee, Richard Collinge and Lance Cairns.

He fell for 112.

Surprisingly, Majid didn’t realise he’d authored a record ? the first non-Australian and the first after World War II ? till he was at the National Stadium.

“I’m not sure whether somebody told me about the record that evening or the next morning? What I do recall is that I knew nothing as long we were at the ground,” he pointed out.

Commenting on Sehwag, Majid said: “Irrespective of the conditions and the bowlers, he likes to dominate? That’s one quality which sets him apart? He has his own technique, but it has brought him success? Sehwag has had periods when he hasn’t got big runs, but Bradman also went through that cycle.”

Majid, however, declined to compare Sehwag with anybody from an earlier era. “Comparisons can’t be made? You can’t compare two fielders, forget comparing batsmen and bowlers? Suffice to say Sehwag has the attributes of a great batsman.”

Asked whether he continued to advocate that batsmen didn’t need footwork (an opinion which caused a stir in the Seventies), Majid laughed: “Absolutely? A batsman needs to pick the ball early? That’s all.”

Till his reflexes slowed, Majid proved that time and time again out on the park. Once, he even helped himself to 30 runs, via five over-boundaries, in one first-class over.

That was at the expense of Glamorgan, a County he joined soon after the assault. He’s still revered there (and elsewhere, too).

The Ludhiana-born Majid, who served as chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board for three years from mid-1996, is currently director (sports) of Pakistan Television.

Incidentally, son Bazid has also played for Pakistan.