Warwickshire cricket star described ‘one of the greatest’ dies age 88

One of Warwickshire’s favourite cricket stars has passed away at the age of 88. Billy Ibadulla from Lahore and four-time capped Pakistan all-rounder was a fixture in the 1960s in the Bears side.

He was part of the first Warwickshire side to play one-day cricket when the old Gillette Cup began. Billy played in three Lord’s finals for the Bears, losing to Sussex in 1964, but beating Worcestershire in 1966 before taking revenge on Sussex in 1968.

Billy made his debut for Pakistan against Australia in October 1964 and went on to earn three more caps with the final two at Lord’s and Trent Bridge. In 1954, he joined the playing staff at Edgbaston in Birmingham, making his County Championship debut in 1957.

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The main stint of his career was with Warwickshire, making 14,766 first-class runs in 377 matches at an average of 26.32, including 17 centuries, and taking 419 wickets with his off-breaks. He also made 62 List-A appearances in the Sunday League and Gilette Cup.

Billy still holds a significant 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 has the country’s first-wicket partnership record.

In a tribute on Warwickshire Cricket Club’s website, county club president Dennis Amiss, Billy’s friend and former team mate described him as an ‘incredible mentor’ and a ‘wonderful person’ to learn the game from.

The tribute reads: “We loved him. He was a special cricketer, one of the greatest, and 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 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. 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 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.

“He had all the attributes and a wonderful track record in the game. We’ve lost one of the greats.”

For the full tribute to Billy Ibadulla, click here.

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