Glowing tributes paid to Colin Cowdrey

England's cricketers touring Pakistan mourned the death of former captain and Test great Colin Cowdrey in Karachi on Tuesday, as officials from the host nation added to the worldwide tributes.

England captain Nasser Hussain led the praise for Cowdrey, describing him as one of a kind.

"Sir Colin was a gifted cricketer as well as the nicest person you could meet -- and a friend to the England team," Hussain said.

Cowdrey, 67, died in England on Tuesday after a protracted illness.

"The England team has lost a good friend with Cowdrey's death," Hussain said.

Cowdrey's son Chris, who was in Pakistan covering England's tour for a radio station before flying back, said: "Obviously the whole family is deeply saddened by the news. It came as a great shock as he was recovering well from a recent stroke."

The tourists' most experienced batsman Alec Stewart described Cowdrey as one of the greatest cricketers ever produced by England.

"Sir Colin was a great cricketer for Kent and England and his name was associated with greatness as well as gentleman's behaviour," Stewart said.

Cowdrey was the fourth highest-scoring England player in Test history, with 7,264 runs from his 114 Tests, starting on the 1954-55 tour of Australia and finishing there 20 years later. He scored 22 Test centuries.

Former Pakistan captain Hanif Mohammad, who was Cowdrey's contemporary, said the cricketing world had lost a great personality.

"Cowdrey was not only a great cricketer but a great human being. I found Cowdrey and Brian Statham as affable and caring," Hanif said.

Hanif said Cowdrey was always accessible to discuss cricket matters. "I had always found him approachable and had discussed cricketing matters with him," he said, adding "I have lost a friend."

Former Pakistan captain and leg-spinner Intikhab Alam who played against Cowdrey in the 1960s described it as a great loss.

"Cowdrey's death is very sad news for me and cricket has lost a great person," he said.

Mail Cricket Editor