Raja Saleem Akhtar, the father of Test cricketers Wasim and Rameez Raja, died of a heart attack in Lahore on April 22. He was 74.

A retired civil servant, Raja Saleem Akhtar played first-class cricket for Multan and Sargodha as a right-hand batsman and legspinner. He made his first-class debut for Multan against Bahawalpur in 1958-59, and later captained them.

In a first-class career lasting five seasons and ten matches he scored 187 runs at an average of 10.38 with a highest score of 87. He also took 17 wickets at a cost of 18.29 with 5 for 34 his best.

Apart from Wasim and Rameez who had distinguished Test careers for Pakistan, he had another son, Zaeem, who also played first-class cricket.