Sporting icons : Abdul Qadir - Career & video of Pakistani mesmerizing leg spinner

 

Abdul Qadir, born on September 15, 1955, in Lahore, Pakistan, was one of cricket's most mesmerizing and influential leg-spin bowlers. Known for his magical wrist-spin and cunning variations, Qadir revived the art of leg-spin bowling at a time when it was thought to be dying. With his unique bowling style, deceptive googlies, and well-disguised flippers, Qadir often bamboozled the best batsmen in the world and is widely credited with inspiring the next generation of spin bowlers.

Style of Play

Magical, Deceptive, and Aggressive:

Abdul Qadir’s style of play was defined by his artistry and skill as a leg-spinner. He had a vast array of deliveries, including the traditional leg-break, the googly, the top-spinner, and the flipper, which he used to deceive batsmen.

What made him truly special was his ability to disguise his variations perfectly, keeping batsmen guessing throughout their innings. He often bowled with a large, looping flight, tempting batsmen into making mistakes.

Qadir was an aggressive bowler who wasn’t afraid to attack, even on unhelpful pitches. His confidence in his ability to outsmart batsmen with his variations made him a dangerous weapon in all conditions.

Career Achievements

Test Cricket

Abdul Qadir made his Test debut for Pakistan in 1977 and played an integral role in the team's bowling attack throughout the 1980s. His ability to spin the ball on any surface and his remarkable control over his deliveries made him a match-winner in Test cricket.

Test Bowling Record:

Matches: 67

Wickets: 236

Bowling Average: 32.80

Best Bowling Figures: 9/56

Five-wicket hauls: 15

Ten-wicket hauls: 5

His standout performance came against England in 1987 in Lahore, where he took 9 wickets for 56 runs, the best bowling performance by a Pakistan leg-spinner in Test history. He ended the series with 30 wickets, an incredible feat that solidified his legacy as one of the best spinners of his time.

Test Batting Record:

Although primarily a bowler, Qadir contributed useful lower-order runs.

Runs: 1,029

Batting Average: 15.70

Highest Score: 61

One-Day Internationals (ODIs)

Qadir was also highly effective in ODI cricket, using his clever variations to restrict the opposition's run flow and take crucial wickets.

ODI Bowling Record:

Matches: 104

Wickets: 132

Bowling Average: 26.16

Best Bowling Figures: 5/44

He was an integral part of Pakistan’s team in the 1983 and 1987 Cricket World Cups, and his ability to bowl economically while taking key wickets made him invaluable in the limited-overs format.

ODI Batting Record:

Runs: 641

Batting Average: 15.09

Highest Score: 41* (not out)

Legacy and Influence

Abdul Qadir is credited with keeping the art of leg-spin alive during an era dominated by fast bowlers. He was a huge influence on future generations of spinners, including the legendary Shane Warne, who regarded Qadir as his inspiration.

After retiring from international cricket, Qadir contributed to Pakistan cricket by mentoring young spinners, helping to nurture talents like Mushtaq Ahmed.

Qadir’s contribution to the game was acknowledged globally, and he remains one of the most respected figures in cricket history, particularly for his innovations in spin bowling.

Key Career Stats Summary:

Test Matches: 67 matches, 236 wickets, 32.80 average, 9/56 best bowling

ODI Matches: 104 matches, 132 wickets, 26.16 average, 5/44 best bowling

Test Runs: 1,029 runs, 15.70 average

ODI Runs: 641 runs, 15.09 average

Abdul Qadir’s ability to mesmerize batsmen with his leg-spin wizardry and his indelible influence on the game of cricket ensure his legacy as one of the greatest spin bowlers to have ever played the sport.

In the below video , watch Qadir's mesmerising bowling vs England at Oval 1987