Former Pakistan Cricketer Billy Ibadulla passes away aged 88

Pakistan all-rounder Billy Ibadulla, who scored a century on Test debut in 1964, passes away at the age of 88.

Former Pakistan allrounder Billy Ibadulla passes away at the age of 88. (Photo-Getty)

New Delhi: Former Pakistan allrounder Billy Ibadulla passed away on Friday at the age of 88. He played only four Test matches for Pakistan between 1964 and 1967 but became the first Pakistani player to score a century on debut.

He made his debut against Australia in 1964 and scored 166 runs off 330 balls in Karachi. He also put up a 249-run partnership for the first wicket along with wicketkeeper Abdul Kadir, which remains the highest partnership between two debutants for any wicket in the longest format.

Despite the promising start, his Test career was very short but he had a brilliant career in first-class cricket, where he scored 17,078 runs at an average of over 27 and also took 462 wickets in 417 matches.

He played the majority of first-class matches with Warwickshire and president Dennis Amiss (also his former teammate) remembers him fondly. He said that he was a special cricketer and one of the greatest. He also said that they had a lot of fun with Ibadulla and everyone loved him at Warwickshire.

“He was a special cricketer, one of the greatest, and we had lots of fun times together, He could be really naughty at times, lots of micky taking, and he gave as good as he got. We loved him at Warwickshire,” Amiss said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Deeply saddened by the passing of Khalid Ibadulla: PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also sent heartfelt condolences to Khalid’s family and friends “The PCB is deeply saddened by the passing of former Test cricketer Khalid Ibadulla on 12 July. He played four Tests from 1964 to 1967, scoring 253 runs, and was the first Pakistan batter to score a century on Test debut. In 417 first-class matches, he amassed 17,078 runs and took 462 wickets. PCB extends its heartfelt condolences to his friends and family,” PCB wrote on social media platform X.

Later in his career, Ibadulla moved to New Zealand and played for Otago in a couple of seasons.