On this day in 1925, Pakistan cricket’s father figure, Abdul Hafeez Kardar, was born. He went on to lead his country in its first ever test match in 1952. Search giant, Google, is now celebrating the legendary cricketer’s 94th birthday with a doodle.
Here’s how it looks.
Kardar played test cricket for United India before the partition, playing a test series in England in 1946. Later in 1947, he along with Imtiaz Ahmed and Fazal Mehmood were selected for Indian squad for a test series in Australia. All three declined to join the team, dreaming of playing test cricket for Pakistan one day. That day came in October 1952.
He was a fearless left-handed batsman and an effective left-arm bowler. He captained Pakistan in the first 23 tests, registering victories against all test playing nations he played against.
After retirement from cricket, Kardar was at the helm of cricketing affairs in Pakistan, holding several offices in the country’s cricketing regulatory body, until he resigned in 1977 due to political interference in the game. Before resigning, he had heralded a new era of professionalism in the organization of cricket in the country.
AH Kardar died on April 21, 1996 aged 71 and Pakistan cricket lost one of its most valuable personalities to ever grace the game.
You didnt mentioned
Abdul Kardar was an international cricketer, who is one of the only three players to have played Test cricket for both India and Pakistan.