Imtiaz Ahmed hit first double century for Pakistan in Tests

by A. C. de Silva

CRICKET: Pakistan cricketers are here in Sri Lanka. They have had an unhappy start to their tour here with the first two Tests going to the Sri Lankans.

Pakistan were admitted to the ICC fold in the summer of 1952 and Sri Lanka came to the big league of Test playing countries much later. Pakistan lost the first series to India 1-2 in India the next India - Pakistan series 1954-55 in Pakistan and the third series 1960-61 in India.

After India's win the inaugural series, the next two series ended in stalemates with all ten Tests being drawn. Many may not be aware that the first two series were played on a reciprocal basis and the Tests were of four days' duration only.

The reason is when the 1952 series in India was planned, Pakistan were not yet admitted to the fold of the Test playing countries by the then Imperial Cricket Conference. As a result, that series in India were to be played as an unofficial one and therefore the duration of Test was fixed for four days.

So, Pakistan went through the mill before getting into the big league and once in it was cricket all the way.

The first Test of the 1852-53 series, played at Delhi, was won easily by India. The Pakistani batsmen had to clue whatever to the wiles of the spinning trio - Vinoo Mankad, Ghulam Ahmed and Subash Gupte. The Test also featured a record last-wicket partnership of 109 runs between H. R. Adhikari and Ghulam Ahmed.

The second Test was played at Lucknow and it looked as if the Indian selectors took things easy and the Test was played on coir matting. Pakistan had a deadly bowler in Fazal Mahmood and his medium fast leg-cutters were almost like fast leg-breaks and were difficult to negotiate and Pakistan finally tasted victory in their second Test and that too by a very big margin. India won third Test. The next two Tests were drawn.

So, Pakistan cricket gradually grew up and took their place in world cricket.

Besides playing against their neighbours India, Pakistan opened up their cricketing engagements on a big scale once being admitted into the Test fold and their players too blossomed out.

Imtiaz Ahmed, born on January 5 in Lahore, played in the first Pakistan Test team in 1952. He played in 41 Tests and scored over 2,000 runs.

He was a middle-order batsman who also batted in the top order often. He was Pakistan's first regular wicket keeper. He picked up his batting and hit the first double century for Pakistan in Tests 209 against New Zealand at Lahore in October 1955.

Before playing Test cricket, Imtiaz Ahmed played for India Prime Minister's XI against Commonwealth XI and scored a triple century while following-on in the match in 1950 in Bombay.

He has two other Test centuries against the West Indies in the season of 1957-58 and against India in 1960.

Sri Lanka's cricket fans of years gone by had the opportunity of seeing Imtiaz Ahmed in 1962 when he played for the Commonwealth XI against the MCC led by Nigel Howard. The Commonwealth Team included such outstanding cricketers like Keith Miller, Neil Harvey, Vinoo Manked, Fazal Mohammad and Graeme Hole and the team captained by F. C. de Saram.