Former Pakistani all-rounder Billy Ibadulla, known for being the first Pakistani to score a century on Test debut, passed away on Friday at the age of 88.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed its condolences to Ibadulla's family, stating, "The PCB extends its heartfelt condolences to his friends and family."
Ibadulla made his Test debut against Australia in Karachi in 1964, scoring an impressive 166 in his first innings. This performance was part of a record-breaking 249-run opening partnership with fellow debutant and wicketkeeper Abdul Kadir, which remains the highest partnership between two debutants for any wicket in Test cricket.
Despite his remarkable debut, Ibadulla's Test career was short-lived, playing only three more Tests and taking a single wicket in the format.
However, Ibadulla's impact was more significant in first-class cricket, where he accumulated 17,078 runs at an average of 27.28 and took 462 wickets. He played 417 first-class matches, including 377 for Warwickshire, where he served for over a decade.
Later in his career, Ibadulla moved to New Zealand and played for Otago for a few seasons. He also contributed to cricket as an umpire in 20 first-class matches and 12 List-A games.
In List A cricket, Ibadulla scored 829 runs and took 84 wickets in 64 matches. His passion for the sport was inherited by his son, Kassem Ibadulla, who played 31 first-class games and 19 List-A games for Gloucestershire and Otago.
The cricketing world remembers Billy Ibadulla not only for his historic debut but also for his significant contributions to the sport throughout his career.