Alimuddin

Alimuddin (Urdu: علیم الدین‎; 15 December 1930 – 12 July 2012) was a Pakistani cricketer who played 25 Tests for Pakistan between 1954 and 1962. His name is sometimes rendered Alim-ud-Din. A fast-scoring, right-handed opening batsman and occasional right-arm leg break bowler, he was the youngest player ever to appear in first-class cricket, aged 12 years and 73 days. In international cricket, he scored 1,091 runs at the average of 25.37, including two centuries and seven fifties. In 1954, he was a member of the Pakistani squad which toured England and recorded Pakistan's first Test match win. Former Pakistani captain Mushtaq Mohammad said about him that he was "a thorough gentleman as well as a great cricketer for Pakistan".

Personal life Alimuddin was an ethnic Muhajir, born in Ajmer, a city in British India, on 15 December 1930. His nephew, James Uddin, the son of Salimuddin, is also a cricketer and currently plays semi-professional cricket in England.

In later life, his pension was suspended after doubts over his actual birth date. The pension was restored after intervention from the Pakistani President. In 1942–43, he played his maiden match in the Ranji Trophy, scoring 13 and 27 runs in his two innings. His highest score in first-class cricket was 142, against Worcestershire in 1954. Domestically, Alimuddin represented Sindh, Rajasthan, Karachi, Bahawalpur and Gujarat, and became the first Pakistani batsman to face a ball bowled by an international bowler on Pakistani soil, in a match between the Sindh and West Indians in 1948. During Pakistan's 1954 tour of England, Alimuddin scored more than 700 runs, including two centuries in the first two matches. He was most successful during 1961–62, scoring 1,020 runs in 12 matches at an average of 51.00. In the same season he captained Karachi, leading the team to victories in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and Ayub Zonal Trophy. His final season in first-class cricket was 1967–68. In Test matches, Alimuddin established an effective opening partnership with Hanif Mohammad. In the fourth Test of the same series Pakistan beat England by 24 runs, recording their first Test win over them to become the first team to defeat England during their maiden tour. In 1954–55, he played, against India, in Pakistan's first home Tests, finishing the series as the leading run scorer with 332; he made three fifties and in the fifth match scored 103 not out at the National Stadium, Karachi, his first international century. He was the first batsman ever to make an international century on the Ground.

Alimuddin also toured West Indies as a part of Pakistan cricket team in 1957–58. He was not successful in the series and his highest score remained 41 runs which he made in the fourth Test at the Bourda, Georgetown, Guyana. In 1962, under the captaincy of Javed Burki, Pakistan visited England where they played a five Test match series. In the fifth Test at Headingley, a low scoring match for Pakistan, Alimuddin's scores of 50 and 60 made him the team's highest scorer of the match. In the fifth Test of the home series against England in 1962, he scored his career best 109 runs at the National Stadium. He played his last match against England in Trent Bridge, Nottingham in 1962.

Former West Indian all-rounder Collie Smith was his only wicket in international cricket.

He is variously known as "Alim-ud-Din" and "Alimuddin", with Wisden using the former in earlier editions and the latter in his obituary.

Death On 12 July 2012, Alimuddin died in Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, London.

Career statistics

Records against opponents Key Inn – Number of innings batted NO – Number of innings not out Runs – Runs scored in career HS – Highest score – Batsman remained not out100 – Number of centuries scored 50 – Number of half centuries scored Avg – Runs scored per dismissal Ca – Catches taken St – Stumpings taken H/A/N – Venue was at home (Pakistan), away or neutral Date – Match starting day Result – Result for the Pakistan team

+Alimuddin's performance in Test matches Opponent Matches inn NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St

Test centuries

+Alimuddin's Test centuries No. Score Against Pos. Inn. Venue H/A/N Date Result 1 2 3 National Stadium, Karachi Home Drawn 2 6 1 National Stadium, Karachi Home Drawn