Former Pakistan all-rounder Billy Ibadulla passed away at the age of 88 on Friday. Ibadulla had a brief but noteworthy international career, playing four Tests for Pakistan between 1964 and 1967. He etched his name in cricket history by becoming the first Pakistani to score a hundred on Test debut.
Ibadulla made his Test debut against Australia in Karachi in 1964, where he scored a remarkable 166 runs in the first innings. His selection was justified by captain Hanif Mohammad, and he formed a 249-run opening partnership with fellow debutant Abdul Kadir. This partnership remains the highest between two debutants for any wicket in Test cricket and was a national record for Pakistan until 1997. Despite his successful debut, Ibadulla only played three more Tests.
Beyond his international career, Ibadulla built a successful tenure with Warwickshire in county cricket. He was one of the first Pakistanis to play county cricket, joining Warwickshire after being overlooked for Pakistan’s 1954 tour to England. Over nearly 18 seasons, he became a key player, playing in 377 first-class matches for Warwickshire and contributing significantly to their two limited-overs cup titles in three years. Notably, in the 1968 final, he took 3-25 and scored 28 runs in Warwickshire’s four-wicket win.
After his county career, Ibadulla transitioned to coaching in the UK before moving to New Zealand, where he continued to play, including stints for Otago and some games for Tasmania in Australia. He played a crucial role in the early development of New Zealand cricket great Glenn Turner. Ibadulla’s first-class career statistics are impressive, with 17,078 runs at an average of 27.28 and 462 wickets at 30.96.
In addition to his playing career, Ibadulla stood as an umpire in 20 first-class matches and 12 List A games and ran a private coaching clinic in New Zealand. Warwickshire president Dennis Amiss paid tribute to Ibadulla, praising him as a special cricketer and a beloved teammate. Ibadulla’s legacy continues through his son, Kassem Ibadulla, who also played first-class and List A cricket.
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