Billy Ibadulla, an ex-all-rounder for Pakistan, passed away on Friday at the age of 88. He was the first batter from Pakistan to make a century in his Test debut, having participated in four matches between 1964 and 1967.
In 1964, Billy Ibadulla made his Test debut in Karachi against Australia, scoring 166 runs in the opening innings. He shared a 249-run opening partnership with wicketkeeper Abdul Kadir, another rookie. In Test cricket, it continues to be the highest partnership for any wicket between two debutants.
Billy Ibadulla only participated in three more Test matches, with a career best of 32. He used his offbreak to take up one wicket.
In first-class cricket, he was even more productive, amassing 17,078 runs at a pace of 27.28 and claiming 462 wickets at a rate of 30.96. 377 of his 417 first-class matches were played for Warwickshire, a team he was a member of for more than ten years. He later relocated to New Zealand, where he played for a few seasons with Otago.
Billy Ibadulla amassed 829 runs and claimed 84 wickets in 64 List A matches. In addition, he officiated 12 List A games and 20 first-class matches. In New Zealand, he also operated a private coaching clinic.
Kassem Ibadulla, his son, represented Gloucestershire and Otago in 31 first-class matches as well as 19 List A contests.
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