Zulfiqar Ahmed

Zulfiqar Ahmed, an offspinner and a useful lower-order batsman, was part of Pakistan's first Test squad for the tour of India in 1952-53. He made his debut in Lucknow and was part of Pakistan's tour to England in 1954 and the home series against New Zealand and Australia in 1955-56 and 1956-57 respectively. He played nine Tests in all and scored 200 runs and took 20 wickets. He scored a crucial 34 at No.10 to help set a competitive target in Pakistan's first victory at The Oval. The highlight of his career, however, was the Karachi Test against New Zealand in 1955 in which Ahmed took 11 for 79. In the next Test in Lahore, Ahmed was part of Pakistan's tail which added a record 450 runs for the last four wickets. Pakistan were struggling at 111 for 6 and finished with 561. Ahmed began his innings with his team on 482 for 8 and remained unbeaten on 21. He died of cardiac arrest in Lahore at the age of 81. He was Pakistan's second-oldest cricketer, after Mohammad Aslam, at the time of his death.
Cricinfo Staff October 2008