Abdul Kardar
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 Pakistan (PAK) |
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| Batting style | Left-hand bat | |
| Bowling type | Slow left-arm orthodox | |
| Tests | First-class | |
| Matches | 26 | 174 |
| Runs scored | 927 | 6832 |
| Batting average | 23.76 | 29.83 |
| 100s/50s | -/5 | 8/- |
| Top score | 93 | 173 |
| Balls bowled | 2712 | 24251 |
| Wickets | 21 | 344 |
| Bowling average | 45.42 | 24.55 |
| 5 wickets in innings | - | 19 |
| 10 wickets in match | - | 4 |
| Best bowling | 3/35 | 7/25 |
| Catches/stumpings | 16/- | 110/- |
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Test debut: 22 June 1946 |
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"Abdul Hafeez" redirects here. For the English cricketer, see Abdul Hafeez (English cricketer).
Abdul Hafeez Kardar (Urdu: عبد الحفیظ کاردار) pronunciation or Abdul Kardar (born Lahore, January 17, 1925, died April 21, 1996) was the first Test captain of the Pakistan cricket team. He is widely regarded as Pakistan cricket's father figure.
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[edit] Early career
Born in Lahore, Punjab in 1925, Kardar domestic cricket for teams like Oxford University, Northern India and Muslims, under the name Abdul Hafeez. He was one of the few players of that generation who played for India, the national team in Tests against England, and following the independence representing Pakistan.
He was a left-handed batsman and a slow left-arm orthodox spin bowler, scoring 6,832 runs and taking 344 wickets in first class cricket. He averaged 29.83 in batting, and 24.55 in bowling.
Kardar played for the Pakistan team from 1948 to 1952, in the years before Pakistan was granted Test status. Kardar also played for Warwickshire, and Pakistan Services.
[edit] Pakistan's Captain
Kardar was appointed to lead the team which would play its first official Test, and series touring India in 1952-1953. Kardar fielded his men against Lala Amarnath's Indian team. Although India won in Delhi and Bombay and won the series, Kardar's Pakistan achieved their first Test victory in only their second Test in Lucknow.
Kardar captained Pakistan against all the Test playing nations of the day, and achieved an unparalleled distinction of leading his team to victories against each of them, which for a nascent cricketing nation was unheard of. Especially famous was the series-levelling victory achieved touring England in 1954 at The Oval. It was unimaginable for the cricket's godfather nation and team to be beaten by minnows in their first rubber, in England.
Kardar and his men also created history by winning the first-ever and only Test against Australia in Karachi in 1957.
Kardar's Pakistan, although aggressive, motivated and confident, was still immature, inexperienced and raw in their cricketing skills to win series victories. The attitude of the players was especially criticized when all the 5 Tests played by the Indian cricket team on its first tour of Pakistan in 1954-1955, were drawn. The fear of both Indian and Pakistani players of losing to each other, owing to political tensions and the bloody legacy of independence, was too much for competitive cricket to be played. In Kardar's tenure, Pakistan won 6, lost 6 and drew 11 matches in 23 Tests. Kardar retired in 1958.
[edit] The Man
Kardar had been a strong supporter of Mohammad Ali Jinnah and a fanatical adherent to the idea of Muslim glory in India. During India's tour, Lala Amarnath records an episode when an inebriated Kardar and two other men attempted to intimidate, harass and assault him, the team manager at the time, attributing to the animosity between Indians and Pakistanis.
Abdul Hafeez Kardar went into politics and served as the president of the Pakistan Cricket Board in the 1970s. His tenure was notable for increasing representation of Asian and African cricketing nations with the International Cricket Council. Kardar was forced to resign after an embarrassing pay dispute with the players in 1977.
Kardar served with many charitable and social development causes, and in the last years of his life served as Pakistan's ambassador to Switzerland. He died in the capital, Islamabad in 1996.
Kardar is today credited with popularizing the game with common Pakistani people and youth, for his tutelage of some of Pakistan's greatest cricketers, young talent and prodigies, and his stewardship of the Pakistan team and the board in its early years, developing a culture of pride and professionalism.
