A CHARISMATIC cricketer, who passed on his years of top-class sporting experience on to many of Haslemere's schoolchildren, has died suddenly. Wasim Raja, 54, who represented Pakistan in 57 Test matches and scored close to 3,000 Test runs, died on Wednesday, August 23, while he was playing for Surrey in an over-50s' match at High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. Mr Raja had complained of feeling unwell while he was fielding and died of a suspected heart attack soon after. Although Mr Raja lived in Caterham, he was well- known in Haslemere after nearly three years teaching geography and cricket at Haslemere Preparatory School, The Heights, in Hill Road. Headmaster Kevin Merrick paid tribute to the teacher, who was head of the school's PE department. He said: "Wasim was completely unspoiled by his fame. He was a lovely, lovely man. He had some fantastic stories about his career, but his absolute modesty meant you had to tease them out of him. "We were lucky to have him here teaching, and while his loss is a great shame, we can say we met him and worked with him. "That is something that will live with all of us forever." Prior to teaching, Mr Raja had a glittering international cricket career. Making his Pakistan debut against New Zealand in 1973, Mr Raja quickly earned a reputation as an exciting and unconventional batsman, refusing to wear head protection against some deadly pace bowlers while racking up an astonishing number of runs. His Test career, which spanned 12 years, brought him 2,821 runs and four centuries, while one Test series against the West Indies yielded 14 sixes. As well as being a big-hitting left-handed batsman, Mr Raja also excelled with the ball. In his 57 Test matches, he claimed 51 wickets at just under 36 runs each. However, while his flamboyant style at the crease was a hit with the fans, it also saw him yo-yo in and out of his country's Test side. He was omitted from the team on 28 occasions. Mr Raja's first-class career was no less impressive than his international one - which also included 54 appearances at one-day internationals. In 250 first-class matches, Wasim hammered 11,434 runs and took 558 wickets. Although his career turned in some impressive statistics, Mr Raja was never made captain of his national side because he had little interest in the role. However, the International Cricket Council - the sport's governing body - appointed him as a match referee. He officiated 15 Test matches up to the 2003-04 season. He coached Pakistan briefly, resigning in 1999 after a 3-0 win over the West Indies, and went on to be a geography teacher. He was senior master at Haslemere Preparatory School, The Heights, and took responsibility in much of the daily running of the school. Mr Raja was born in Multan, in the Punjab, but settled in London after meeting his English wife Ann while touring the country in 1978. Ann and his two sons survive him. The funeral was held yesterday (Thursday) in Caterham.