OTD | Ghulam Ahmed was born in 1922

Ghulam Ahmed was a reputed cricketer from Hyderabad, who also led India in Test cricket. He was born on July 2, 1922. Ahmed went to a school named Madrassa-e-Aliya for his education.

Ahmed played first-class cricket for Hyderabad from 1939-40 to 1958-59. He was an off-spinner, who represented Idnia in 22 Test matches. Ahmed captained India in one Test against New Zealand in 1955-56 and two against the West Indies in 1958-59. While the game against the Kiwis ended in a draw, India lost both matches they played versus the Caribbean side.

Ahmed was a part of the Indian team which faced Pakistan in 1952-53 in the first-ever encounter between the two neighbouring countries. He accounted for five wickets and also notched up his only Test half-century. The gritty cricketer batted at No. 11 and stitched a 109-run stand for the 10th wicket with Hemu Adhikari. 

Ahmed formed India’s first spin-bowling troika alongside Vinoo Mankad and Subash Gupte. After calling time on his playing career, Ahmed served for several years as the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Before this stint, he was also the manager of the Indian team that traveled to Australia and New Zealand in 1967-68 to play Test cricket.

In 22 Tests, Ahmed picked up 68 wickets at an average of 30.17, with best figures of 7/49. He had four five-wicket hauls to his name. In first-class cricket, he picked up 407 wickets in 98 matches at an average of 22.57. The renowned cricketer bagged an impressive tally of 32 five-fors.

Ahmed was the uncle of the former Pakistan skipper Asif Iqbal. He is also the great-uncle of India’s tennis icon Sania Mirza. Ahmed was one of the founders of the Sultan-ul-Uloom Education Society. He breathed his last the age of 76.

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