Clive Rice, a true ambassador of the game: Mohammad Azharuddin

Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin paid rich tributes to Clive Rice on Wednesday, a day after the South African succumbed to brain tumour in Cape Town.

Azharuddin was India's captain when South Africa, led by Rice, had their first taste of international cricket after being readmitted following 22 years of isolation.

Talking to dna from New Delhi, Azharuddin said he was saddened by the passing away of Rice. “He was a very nice person, a very docile person. I have not played much cricket with him except when he came to India on that three-match ODI series in November 1991. In the brief interactions that I have had with him, I found him to be a very nice human being, the way he came across, the way he talked. He was very receptive to people. The world cricket will miss him a lot.

“He was one of the finest all-rounders in the league of Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, Richard Hadlee and Ian Botham. If he had played in Test cricket, he would have been on par with all these great all-rounders. Because of apartheid, Rice could not play. Like him, there were so many players who lost out. Jimmy Cook played only Test. Barry Richards, Graeme Pollock, Mike Procter, they all played less Test cricket and that was sad for world cricket. They played for English counties and unofficial games. Otherwise, SA would have produced many many great cricketers.”

The 99-Test veteran Azharuddin led India to 2-1 win over Rice's Proteas in what was South Africa's first experience of One Day International cricket. Rice, 42 at that time, never played international cricket thereafter.

Terming Rice as a “very generous person”, Azharuddin, 52, said that he deservingly led South Africa in those three matches. “South African board recognised that he had missed out on international cricket during the apartheid years and decided that he should lead the country as he was fit and still playing. It was a very good step. However, when it came to Test cricket, the SA board went for a younger player as they played their first Test on readmission after the 1992 World Cup.

“The whole South African side was very happy to be part of world cricket again. That was the most important thing for them. They were overawed by the whole situation. I can't particularly remember what Rice and I spoke during that historic series.”

Azharuddin recalled having spoken with Rice a couple of years ago. “I spoke with him a couple of years ago, we exchanged emails and phone numbers. We got talking in general. But I did not realise at that time that his health condition was bad.”

Azharuddin recalled how ferocious a bowling attack Rice and New Zealand great Hadlee formed for Nottinghamshire in English county cricket.

“Being a fast bowler, Rice was dangerous. He formed a deadly combination with Richard Hadlee. The Nottingham wickets were lively. They had Hadlee from one end, Rice from the other. Am glad I did not play them in county cricket though I was lucky to have played Hadlee in international cricket.

“By the time I played my first county cricket (for Derbyshire) in 1991, Rice had stopped playing by then. Rice-Hadlee pair must have been a sight to see. Am sure Richard Hadlee will miss him personally.”

Azharuddin concluded by saying that Rice was “a true ambassador of the game. His contribution to Nottinghamshire was unparalleled. I don't thing anybody else performed so well.”