Warwickshire County Cricket Club is deeply saddened to learn that former Pakistan international and Bears legendary all-rounder Khalid "Billy" Ibadulla has passed away at the age of 88.
Ibadulla, one of Warwickshire’s great overseas talents, was a proud Bear who made 439 appearances in First Class and List A cricket across an 18-year span, winning three domestic trophies.
A man for the big occasion, Ibadulla took 2/33 to help the Bears defeat Worcestershire at Lord’s in the 1966 Gillette Cup final and 3/25 two years later to beat Sussex in the final of the same competition.
In 1972, Ibadulla made five County Championship appearances as Warwickshire lifted the title for the third time in their history.
Arriving with limited First Class experience from Punjab, Ibadulla was the epitome of an all-rounder, firing 14,766 runs – ranked 19th in Warwickshire’s history – alongside his 418 wickets in 377 matches.
Mostly an opening batter, Ibadulla made 1000 runs in a season six times, with a highest tally of 2,098 runs in 1962. His top score was 171, against Oxford University in 1961.
In 1960, Ibadulla scored an unbeaten 170 for the Bears against Surrey, and put on 377 with Norman Horner for the first wicket, then the highest unbroken opening partnership in cricket history. Since surpassed, the partnership still holds as Warwickshire’s record opening stand.
With the ball, the right-armer accrued six 5-fers, with a career-best of 7/22 against Derbyshire in 1967.
In the List A game, Ibadulla added 776 runs and 81 dismissals – with two 5-fers including a 6/32 against Hampshire – from 62 matches.
In total, Ibadulla finished with 15,542 runs and 499 wickets wearing the Bear and Ragged Staff, receiving his Warwickshire cap in 1957 and a benefit in 1969.
For his native Pakistan, Ibadulla played four Test matches, scoring 253 runs and taking one wicket.
Although he had not played domestic first-class cricket in Pakistan for more than 10 years, Ibadulla was selected to play in the single Test against Australia in Karachi in 1964–65.
Opening the batting, he struck 166 in five and a half hours, forming an opening partnership of 249 with Abdul Kadir (95), the highest in Test cricket for any wicket to involve two test debutants.
He holds the record of playing most first-class games (217) before making a Test debut for Pakistan.
Following the resumption of his playing career, Ibadulla, who played two seasons for Otago, settled in New Zealand to coach.
Everyone’s thoughts at Warwickshire County Cricket Club are with Billy’s family and friends.
