Syed Abid Ali, a revered figure in the cricketing world, has passed away at the age of 83 | Cricbuzz.com

In Memoriam: Syed Abid Ali, Former India All-Rounder, Passes Away at 83
Author: Cricbuzz Staff
Updated:

Syed Abid Ali, the former Indian all-rounder renowned for his exceptional fielding prowess and versatility, passed away on Wednesday, March 12, at the age of 83. An emblematic figure in Indian cricket, Abid Ali represented the nation in 29 Tests and 5 ODIs, leaving an indelible mark on the cricketing world.

Hailing from Hyderabad, Abid Ali made a memorable Test debut for India in December 1967 in Adelaide, where his medium-pace deliveries secured him impressive first-innings figures of 6 for 55, a career-best performance. During the same tour, he further showcased his all-round capabilities by scoring 78 and 81 at Sydney. His Test career spanned until 1974, culminating in 47 wickets and 1018 runs.

Demonstrating his multifaceted skills, Abid Ali had the rare honor of opening both batting and bowling in seven Test matches. This included two away matches against New Zealand in February 1968, three home fixtures against the same team in September and October 1969, and two encounters during India’s tour of the West Indies in 1971.

Reflecting on his legacy, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar remarked, “It is with great sadness that I acknowledge the passing of a lion-hearted cricketer. Abid was ever willing to fulfill the needs of the team, whether it was opening the batting or taking breathtaking catches in the leg-side cordon, enhancing the potency of our spin quartet.” Gavaskar continued, “As a bowler, Abid had the unique achievement of securing a wicket with the first ball of a Test match twice. His ingenuity with the tip and run strategy alleviated pressure significantly during my debut Test. Abid Ali was a gentleman of the game, renowned for his impeccable manners and eloquence. My deepest condolences to his family.”

Abid Ali also participated in five ODIs, including three matches during the inaugural men’s ODI World Cup. In his final 50-over match against New Zealand, he scored a commendable 70 off 98 balls. Over his first-class career, he amassed an impressive tally of 397 wickets and 8732 runs across 212 matches, with a career-best score of 173 not out.

— Cricbuzz

Tags: India, Syed Abid Ali