12 Interesting facts about Abdul Qadir that you should know

12 Interesting facts about Abdul Qadir that you should know: Abdul Qadir debuted in international cricket in December 1977 and was a part of the Pakistan Test squad until December 1990. In all the 13 years he dedicated to international cricket Qadir ensured the art of wrist spin evolved at its best, he is no doubt regarded as one of the best spinners to have ever played the game.

People talk about him and the doosra but it was not just his doosra but his googlies and flippers also fetched him wickets on rather unfriendly wickets against better and able batsmen. He took the field for Pakistan in 67 Tests and went back with 236 wickets, with his 9/56 against England at Lahore during England’s 1987-88 tour of Pakistan being the best.

Abdul Qadir also played 104 ODIs and grabbed 132 wickets at an economy of 4.06 and an average of 26.16. His First Class cricket records stand even taller with 960 wickets in 209 matches with an average of 23.24.

On his 60^th birthday today, are the 12 Interesting facts about Abdul Qadir that you should know:

1. Birth:

Abdul Qadir Khan was born on this day in Lahore, Punjab in 1955.

2. Debut:

He made his first class debut playing for Habib Bank Limited in the 1975-76 season. Thereafter, he made his Test debut against England at Lahore in 1977 and had to wait another 6 years before making his ODI debut in 1983 against Pakistan at Birmingham.

3. Getting tonked:

A precocious 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar took him to the cleaners smashing 4 sixes in an over in a warm-up match in fading light. Probably, that was a sign of things to come as Sachin went on to become the leading run-scorer in Tests and one-day internationals.

4. Best figures:

A career best 9/56 against England at the Gaddafi stadium, Lahore in 1987 remains the best ever figures by a Pakistani in Test cricket to date. He recorded his career best ODI figures of 5/44 versus Sri Lanka at Headingley in the World Cup in 1983.

5. First genuine wrist spinner:

Qadir was the first genuine wrist spinner who could impart multiple revolutions to the ball and was the premier leg break bowler in the late seventies and eighties. He was also noted for his tortuous run-up to the bowling crease.

6. Master of variation:

It is said that Qadir possessed such variety that he could bowl 6 different balls in the same over including two types of googlies.

7. Batting heroics:

Although not noted for his batting, he once took 13 off the last over bowled by Courtney Walsh to win a World Cup match in 1987 and also scored 3 fifties in Tests with a career best of 61.

8. As a captain:

He had a poor record as captain losing 4 of the 5 Tests that he captained.

9. Retirement:

Qadir bid adieu to Tests in 1990 playing his last match against West Indies at Lahore while he quit ODIs in 1993 after playing against Sri Lanka at Sharjah.

10. Controversy:

He had a controversial stint as a commentator on a Pakistan Television (PTV) show in 2004. Quadir was quoted saying: “We all know the ball has always been made up [tampered with] by Pakistani fast bowlers, but with so much scrutiny on this series, this has not been possible.” His contract was promptly annulled by PTV who said that he had violated their code of conduct by making claims of ball tampering by Pakistani pacers.

11. As a selector:

Qadir was appointed the chief selector in 2008 for the series against India which however, failed to materialize due to the Mumbai terror attacks. The replacement series against Sri Lanka had to be abandoned due to a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus. This was his brief brush with selection.

12. Famous quote:

English opener Graham Gooch had once famously remarked, “Qadir was even finer than Shane Warne.” Qadir also had the distinction of being included in legendary spinner Richie Benaud’s team of the all time greatest eleven, drawn from players spanning different generations.