Warwickshire great Ibadulla dies, aged 88

Punjab-born Billy Ibadulla played for Warwickshire between 1957 and 1972

Billy Ibadulla, one of Warwickshire's all-time greats, has passed away in New Zealand, at the age of 88.

The Lahore-born four-times capped Pakistan all-rounder was a fixture in the Bears side throughout the 1960s.

Ibadulla was part of the first Warwickshire side to play one-day cricket when the old Gillette Cup began back in 1963.

He went on to play in three Lord's finals for the Bears, losing to Sussex in 1964, beating Worcestershire in 1966 and then wreaking revenge on Sussex in 1968.

Ibadulla made his Test debut for Pakistan against Australia in Karachi in October 1964, going on to earn three more caps, the final two of them on their tour to England in 1967 - at Lord's and Trent Bridge.

After making his first-class debut in Lahore in February 1952, Ibadulla joined the playing staff at Edgbaston in 1954, making his County Championship debut in 1957.

He went on to play the vast majority of his career with Warwickshire, making 14,766 first-class runs in 377 matches at an average of 26.32, including 17 centuries, and taking 418 wickets with his off-breaks. He also made 62 List A appearances in the Gillette Cup and the Sunday League.

Ibadulla still holds a place in the Warwickshire records, having played his part, along with Norman Horner, in a 377-run opening stand against Surrey at The Oval in 1960 - which remains the county's first-wicket partnership record.

Billy Ibadulla was part of a Warwickshire side who - under the captaincy of MJK Smith, alongside the likes of Tom Cartwright, Dennis Amiss, A C Smith, Jack Bannister, David Brown and John Jameson - twice won the Gillette Cup in the 1960s

'One of the greats - he had everything'

"We loved him," Warwickshire club president Dennis Amiss, Ibadulla's friend and former Bears team-mate, said in a tribute.

"We had lots of fun times together. He had an infectious laugh. I can hear it now. Billy was always up for a laugh in the dressing room. He could be really naughty at times, lots of micky-taking. He gave as good as he got.

"He was an incredible mentor. A wonderful person to learn the game from. As young players we wanted help and guidance. Along with Jack Bannister at the time, I couldn't have asked for better role models.

"We played together over many years and toured together. He was a lovely team man, on and off the field. Intelligent, warm, and a wonderful cricketer.

"He had everything. He could bowl off-spinners, seam, and open the batting. And a really good short square leg fielder when MJK Smith didn't fancy fielding there.

"With his off-spinners, everybody went for the turn and they would go straight on. He'd get lots of wickets that way. It took batters a year or two to work him out.

"We all wanted Billy's spot at the top of the order but he was so good he wasn't going to let it go easily. He kept me waiting a few years before he moved lower down the order and I got my chance.

"We visited Billy and his family in Dunedin in New Zealand and shared some memories. He was a lovely family man and we're all very saddened by his passing.

"He had all the attributes and a wonderful track record in the game. We've lost one of the greats."