Saeed Ahmed (cricketer)

Saeed Ahmed (Urdu: سعید احمد; 1 October 1937 – 20 March 2024) was a Pakistani Test cricketer who captained the national team, and later became a preacher and member of Tablighi Jamaat.

Saeed Ahmed
Personal information
Full name
Saeed Ahmed
Born(1937-10-01)1 October 1937
Jalandhar, Punjab Province, British India
Died20 March 2024(2024-03-20) (aged 86)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm offbreak
RelationsYounis Ahmed
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 27)17 January 1958 v West Indies
Last Test29 December 1972 v Australia
Career statistics
CompetitionTestsFirst-class
Matches41213
Runs scored2,99112,847
Batting average40.4140.02
100s/50s5/1634/51
Top score172203*
Balls bowled1,98018,879
Wickets22332
Bowling average36.4524.75
5 wickets in innings015
10 wickets in match02
Best bowling4/648/41
Catches/stumpings13/–122/–
Source: Cricinfo, 13 June 2016
Pride of Performance Award Recipient
Date1962
CountryIslamic Republic of Pakistan
Presented byIslamic Republic of Pakistan

Born in 1937 at Jalandhar in what was then British Punjab, part of British India and educated at Government Islamia College in Lahore, Saeed's brother Younis Ahmed also played cricket for Pakistan.[2]

A right-handed middle order batsman with a powerful drive and bowled off-breaks, Saeed made his Test début on 17 January 1958 against West Indies at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados. He made 65 in the second innings, at one stage partnering with Hanif Mohammad who went on to make 337. Saeed finished the series with 508 runs.

Saeed captained his side in three drawn Tests in 1968–69 but his career ended in controversial circumstances when he declared himself unfit for the third Test against Australia in 1972 due to what he claimed was a back injury. In the previous Test, he had been involved in a heated altercation with Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee and the Pakistan management was sceptical about Saeed's injury.[2] In all, Saeed played 41 Tests, scoring 2991 runs at 40.41 and taking 22 wickets at 36.45.

Personal life and death

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Saeed married renowned businesswoman Begum Salma Ahmed, a relative of Pakistani diplomat Shahryar Khan, and became involved in the business.[2]

In 1980, he quit his cricket and business careers and joined Tablighi Jamaat as a preacher.[2]

Saeed Ahmed died on 20 March 2024, at the age of 86.[3]

Records

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  • Fastest Pakistani Cricketer to reach 1,000 test runs (20 innings).[4][5][6][7][8]

References

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  1. ^ Saeed Ahmed gets Pride of Performance award
  2. ^ a b c d Salman Faridi (7 June 2020). "The Twenty Two Families of Pakistan Test Cricket – Part III". The News International (newspaper). Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Former Test captain Saeed Ahmed dies aged 86". Cricket Pakistan. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Records / Test matches / Batting records / Fastest to 1000 runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  5. ^ "PCB mourns passing of former Test captain Saeed Ahmed". www.geosuper.tv. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Former Test Captain Saeed Ahmed passes away". PakPassion.net. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  7. ^ Desk, Sports (21 March 2024). "قومی ٹیسٹ ٹیم کے چھٹے کپتان سعید احمد 86برس کی عمر میں انتقال کر گئے". Dawnnews Television. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  8. ^ "پاکستان کے سابق ٹیسٹ کپتان سعید احمد 86 برس کی عمر میں انتقال کر گئے". urdu.geo.tv. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
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Preceded by Pakistan Cricket Captain
1968–1969
Succeeded by
Preceded by Nelson Cricket Club
Professional

1965–1966
Succeeded by