A Conversation with Nauman Niaz

Martin Chandler | 1:04pm BST 06 August 2023

Over time some outstanding collections of cricket memorabilia have been put collectively. Sadly for we mere mortals these are usually in personal fingers, so we don’t get to see them. There are museums after all, that at Lord’s being one I’ve been to on a few events however, my fundamental curiosity being the literature of the sport, these journeys haven’t been fully fulfilling.

David Frith had a surprising assortment of all kinds of memorabilia, together with books, pamphlets and the opposite printed ephemera that fascinate me a lot. That assortment is being damaged up as I sort this characteristic, the primary tranche of it having gone beneath the hammer in March this yr. However not less than I’ll at all times have my copy of that weightiest of tomes, The David Frith Archive, so while I’ll by no means scent, see or contact the Frith assortment I can not less than marvel on the breadth of its protection of cricket historical past and movie it in my thoughts’s eye.

Just one different assortment has been the topic of the same undertaking (paradoxically sufficient by the identical writer) and that’s the topic of the 2 quantity Collector’s Eye, revealed in 2021. That assortment remains to be rising and, given it’s positioned in Islamabad, it’s simply as nicely that it’s illustrated so extensively in Collector’s Eye. So as to add to my pleasure on that topic the gathering’s lucky proprietor, Nauman Niaz, is sort sufficient to ship me occasional updates as regards to his newest acquisitions.

Earlier generations have had their outstanding collections as nicely. Pat Mullins and Tony Baer assembled them within the latter years of the 20th century, and earlier than them there have been the likes of Joe Goldman and Sir Julien Cahn and, for anybody , there may be some proof accessible of the gadgets all of them owned. Certainly within the case of Mullins and Baer their collections now repose on the Melbourne Cricket Floor, so can be found for public viewing.

However not one of the collections I’ve talked about had been assembled in the identical approach as Nauman’s. The person is a real polymath, as is inevitably going to be the case with a person who has acquired to date in life in so many alternative fields of human endeavour. Cricket could also be his past love, and all in all he tells me that cricketing gadgets make up round half of his private museum, however there are various different outstanding gadgets in there.

So what else does Nauman gather? It must be talked about briefly if solely to offer an concept of the vary of his pursuits. Thus the very first ‘displays’ in Collector’s Eye are a choice of signed pictures. You would possibly count on to see the likes of WG Grace, Fuller Pilch, Ranjitsinhji and John Wisden, however the truth is these featured are Adolf Hitler, Erwin Rommel, Abraham Lincoln, Marilyn Monroe, Winston Churchill, King George VI and Diego Maradona. A measure of simply how spectacular Nauman’s museum is is the look of awe within the facial expressions of the lads on this {photograph}. Ordinarily none of Ian Chappell, Vivian Richards or Rashid Latif are, I might think about, simply impressed and, displaying them spherical, even Nauman’s face betrays a way of surprise at what he has been capable of put collectively.

So now you will have an concept of the form of man I’m coping with, and the problem of the duty of confining oneself to only a few questions. However the benefit of the web is that we will have as many instalments of this dialog as Nauman is ready to indulge me for, so right here’s the primary set of questions and Nauman’s responses;

At what age did you begin amassing and what was the primary space of curiosity attracted your consideration?

From a really younger age I used to be into preserving something that belonged to me, in contrast to different contemporaries or kids, I cleaned my toy vehicles and saved them in particular pouches. I additionally preserved my quarterly report playing cards in school, even the sharpened pencils. I don’t know whether or not it was hoarding or sense of possession or a software of retaining the reminiscences alive. 

I used to be seven years outdated once I first noticed reside cricket, the primary Take a look at between Pakistan and New Zealand held at Lahore’s Gadaffi Stadium. Javed Miandad made his debut and posted an impregnable 163. I had a match brochure in my hand which I acquired signed not solely by Javed however the whole Pakistan staff and in addition all of the New Zealand gamers. 

It was at round this age that my maternal uncle, himself a Ranji Trophy participant and a First Class cricketer, Khawaja Rauf Zakria Kitchlew, offered me with two books. One was a primary version of the Jubilee Guide of Cricket by Shri Kumar Ranjitsinhji that was revealed in 1897, and the opposite an impeccable copy of Imperial Cricket by Sir Pelham Warner that was revealed in 1912. I saved them close to my pillow and hardly slept that evening. 

My mom, who had been an everyday as a spectator to nearly all of the matches performed at Lahore’s Bagh-i-Jinnah, gifted me her autograph e book which contained autographs of the 1951 MCC staff that toured Pakistan. It was additionally signed by the Pakistan staff which travelled to India for his or her inaugural Take a look at collection in 1952-53, the India staff that arrived in Pakistan in 1954-55, and the New Zealanders who got here to Pakistan in 1955. 

Even these gems weren’t the whole thing of the treasure trove, which continued with the signatures of the MCC ‘A’ staff led by Donald Carr in 1955-56, the Australians who visited in Pakistan 1956, the West Indians who got here in 1958-59 and the 1959-60 Australians. After that I started amassing the autographs of all First Class cricketers, and having pictures signed on match brochures and magazines. I used to be twelve years outdated when it began. There was no trying again. So I had begun as an autograph collector, and the books adopted, these I started buying by the point I used to be 13 years outdated. 

Did the remainder of your loved ones encourage you, or did they only allow you to get on with it? 

Pampered and cherished unconditionally I used to be inspired by my household who absolutely endorsed my ardour. My father incentivized all of it. If I acquired A grades in school, I used to be gifted a handful of cricket books and so forth. As defined, even my maternal and paternal uncles spurred me on. 

We’ve already established your amassing tastes are an eclectic combine, however I’m a cricket lover so inform me what your fundamental curiosity is, and has that modified through the years? 

You might be proper that my tastes as a collector are an eclectic combine, nonetheless I’m deeply into pre-war and the Edwardian age memorabilia primarily the signed postcards, the autograph sheets, and uncommon handkerchiefs. Sure, through the years it has modified and the alternatives have reworked. I now search out first editions of the rarest books, ideally inscribed or signed, and prints from the likes of JC Anderson, George Beldam, Chevallier Tayler in addition to match used bats and different gear, even stumps. 

And now I’m going to interrupt some dangerous information Nauman – any second your museum is about to fall sufferer to a pure catastrophe – do you keep along with your treasures and face no matter is coming or flee with what you possibly can carry? 

I’ll stick with my treasures and face no matter is coming. 

I used to be very assured that may be your response, and I want to assume I might do the identical. So let’s faux, only for a second, that you just determine on flight. I’m going to let you take ten gadgets with you. What are they going to be?

That may be a merciless query, however within the spirit through which you ask it I’ll reply. I feel I might attempt to protect the next:- 

1. Felix On The Bat inscribed and hand-signed by the writer (1845)
2. Presentation Copy of WG Grace’s Cricket revealed in 1891 (one of many ten printed)
3. Hand-signed Lillywhite’s Scores & Biographies Quantity I & II (hand-signed by Fred Lillywhite) in 1862. 
4. Victor Trumper’s match performed bat from 1899 (Lord’s Take a look at)
5. Sir Donald Bradman’s match performed bat
6. Australia to England in 1909, giant authentic hand-signed {photograph} 
7. MCC to England 1907-1908 hand-signed staff {photograph} 
8. Match used bat of W.G. Grace 1905
9. Match used bat of Shri Kumar Ranjitsinhji 1896
10. The unique ball used within the 1902 Take a look at between Australia and England the place Gilbert Jessop walloped a match profitable century. 

Which does embrace three books, however as a bibliophile that’s my fundamental space of curiosity, so I made a decision to dwell on the purpose and requested Nauman to inform me about some extra of his books. I gave him a large transient, however confused that I needed him to incorporate not solely his treasures, such because the three books he had already talked about, but in addition his favorite reads. In the long run he got here up with fifteen extra titles. They’re an fascinating choice, and in no explicit order are:-

Kings of Cricket by Richard Daft (1893)

It is a e book I’ve written about earlier than, here, so is not going to go into element once more. Nauman’s is quantity six of the subscriber’s version.

The Cricket Subject by James Pycroft (1922)

One of many early books on the sport the primary version of Pycroft appeared in 1851. Between then and 1887 the e book ran by way of eight extra UK editions in addition to one within the US. A ultimate version, edited by Ashley-Cooper was revealed in 1922. It might appear stunning that Nauman’s copy is of the final relatively than the primary version, however then solely the 1922 model appeared in a particular restricted version. Nauman’s copy is quantity 60 of the 100 revealed

Past a Boundary by CLR James (1963)

The best cricket e book ever revealed? There have actually been loads who’ve made that declare and it’s a e book that Stuart Wark reviewed here, and I subsequently wrote about here. I dare say that it’s the well-known essay on WG that pulls Nauman as a lot as something, and he has a really particular copy. It’s a first version after all, fascinating sufficient in itself, however this one is inscribed from James to G Neville Weston, a famous collector and nice skilled on WG.

Scores of Matches 1786-1822 by Henry Bentley (1823)

One of many first books revealed on the sport Bentley is nothing greater than a set of scorecards, and rudimentary ones at that. It’s nonetheless some of the wanted gadgets of cricket literature notably, as Nauman after all has, a replica with the 2 dietary supplements for 1823 and 1824/25 current. For we mortals nonetheless there’s a most tasty facsimile that was revealed by Roger Heavens in 1997, and which has the additional benefit of a scholarly introduction by David Rayvern Allen.

A Few Brief Runs by Lord Harris (1921)

The autocratic Harris is greatest often called an administrator, however he was additionally a high quality participant who led England in 4 Exams in opposition to Australia and that is his autobiography. 

An Australian Cricketer on Tour by Frank Laver (1905)

Earlier than the format for tour books turned set in stone Australian all-rounder Frank Laver wrote this glorious account of his journeys to England with the 1899 and 1905 Australians.

With Stoddart’s Group in Australia by KS Ranjitsinhji (1898)

Thanks largely to Ranji’s 175 England received the primary Take a look at of the 1897/98 Ashes collection however, sadly, regardless of the nice man ending the collection with a mean of fifty England misplaced the opposite 4 Exams. After returning dwelling Ranji produced this traditional account of the journey.

Stray Ideas on Indian Cricket by J Framjee Patel (1905)

This was the primary e book revealed that regarded on the historical past of cricket in India within the spherical. Just a few earlier books had been written, however they focused on the sport amongst the Parsi neighborhood. Patel’s e book is on the market to all as a reprint. Nauman’s copy nonetheless is, after all, a primary version.

With the MCC in Australia by Philip Trevor (1908)

This e book is the one account of the 1907/08 Ashes collection. It was printed on poor high quality paper and few copies survive. Nauman’s is after all an authentic, however because of UK supplier/writer JW McKenzie a contemporary facsimile is on the market.

Memento of Arthur Shrewsbury and Alfred Shaw Cricketers by WF Grundy (1907)

A modest 93 web page e book this one pays tribute to 2 of the best English skilled gamers of the ‘Golden Age’ being the Nottinghamshire pair of Shaw and Shrewsbury. The previous, a formidable bowler, had died simply earlier than publication and Shrewsbury, a high quality batsman, had taken his personal life 4 years beforehand.

‘WG’ by WG Grace (1899)

This was the nice man’s autobiography, a cumbersome 524 pages ghost written by Arthur Porritt. Nauman’s copy has a most outstanding survivor for an 1899 e book, its authentic mud jacket.

10 for 66 and all that by Arthur Mailey (1958)

Properly acquired on publication in 1958 the status of this entertaining memoir from Australian leg spinner Arthur Mailey has, unusually, grown through the years. 

Lambert’s Cricketer’s Information by William Lambert (1816)

Books of this age are both poems, collections of scores or tutorial, and Lambert falls into the latter class. It appeared in not less than 13 editions, together with what was described as a twentieth, though no copies between 13 and 19 have been recorded. All incarnations of the e book are, unsurprisingly, exceptionally uncommon. Nauman’s copy is one in all his more moderen acquisitions, and a second version.

Curiosities of First Class Cricket by FS Ashley-Cooper (1901)

Lots of Ashley-Cooper’s publications are tough to amass, usually showing in brief runs of only a few copies. Curiosities of First Class Cricket, as its title suggests, is an entertaining assortment of the weird and weird tales concerning the recreation that Ashley-Cooper tracked down in his in depth analysis into the historical past of cricket, and is without doubt one of the simpler of his titles to supply. That mentioned there was a restricted version of 100 signed, numbered and specifically sure copies, of which Nauman’s is one

Alfred Lyttelton: His Residence Coaching and Earlier Life by Edward Lyttelton (1916) 

Alfred Lyttelton was a double worldwide, representing England at cricket and soccer, and is greatest recognized for taking off his wicketkeeping package in 1884 and taking 4 Australian wickets in fast succession together with his underarm lobs. A profession politician in 1917 Lyttelton’s sister, Edith, wrote a full biography. This one, a lot slimmer and far rarer, was written by brother Edward, additionally a soccer worldwide, a First Class cricketer and for his day job very long time headmaster at Eton School. The worth of Nauman’s copy of the e book is enormously enhanced by being accompanied by a prolonged letter from the writer to a member of the Hunter Blair household.

Which I feel concludes how a lot I can pester Nauman about his assortment at this stage, however relaxation assured that I’ll do my greatest to get him again for one more session within the close to future.

However lastly, having whetted the urge for food of all who’re studying this, to be occurring with listed here are only a few photographs of Nauman’s museum.