Athar Ali Khan

Infobox Cricketer


nationality = Bangladeshi
country = Bangladesh
country abbrev = Ban
name = Athar Ali Khan
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm medium
balls = true
tests = -
test runs = -
test bat avg = -
test 100s/50s = -
test top score = -
test overs = -
test wickets = -
test bowl avg = -
test 5s = -
test 10s = -
test best bowling = -
test catches/stumpings = -/-
ODIs = 19
ODI runs = 532
ODI bat avg = 29.55
ODI 100s/50s = -/3
ODI top score = 82
ODI overs = 420
ODI wickets = 6
ODI bowl avg = 60.83
ODI 5s = -
ODI 10s = -
ODI best bowling = 2/33
ODI catches/stumpings = 2/-
date = 13 February
year = 2006
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/56227.html

Athar Ali Khan ( _bn. আতহার আলী খান ) (born February 10, 1962 in Dacca, Bangladesh) is a former Bangladeshi cricketer. A right-handed batsman, he played 19 one-day internationals scoring 532 runs at an average of 29.55 with a highest score of 82. Throughout the 80's Athar played as middle order batsman, batting mostly at No. 4 or 5. Later on, encouraged by the Indian Test Cricketer, Mohinder Amarnath, Athar started opening regularly for Bangladesh. [ [http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/05/02/sports.htm] : Rafiqul Ameer."Looking Back: Bangladesh Cricket in the 80's". Retrieved on 2007-12-18.] He was also a useful slow medium pacer taking 6 wickets in ODI matches. [ [http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/player/56227.html Cricinfo Player Page: Athar Ali Khan] :(Retrieved on 2007-12-25). ] He is currently Bangladesh cricket team's national selector. He is also a popular cricket commentator.

Early years

In 1984, Athar played for the Bangladesh Tigers in the first South East Asian Cup. A year later he played in the 3 Day match against Sri Lanka at Dhaka. During the season 84-85 he was part of the Dhaka University team which won the National cricket Title. In the Semi-Final, against Dhaka district, Athar scored 155 and shared a record stand of 447 with Tariquzzaman Munir (308). [ [http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/05/02/sports.htm] : Rafiqul Ameer."Looking Back: Bangladesh Cricket in the 80's". Retrieved on 2007-12-18.]

= Athar as an ODI player =

In October 1988, he was Bangladesh's best performer in the Wills Asia Cup at Dhaka. He scored 16 against India, 22 against Pakistan & 30 against Sri Lanka.Then on the final day of 1990, he entertained the huge 50,000 crowd at Eden Garden, Calcutta with 78* against Sri Lanka. His innings included three huge sixes. Although Bangladesh lost the match, Athar was adjudeged the Man-of-the-Match. [ [http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65683.html Cricinfo Scorecard] :Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (1990-12-31), Retrieved on (2007-12-25). ] .

Athar's highest ODI score (82) came against Pakistan in 1997. There, he put on a cetury partnership (110) with skipper Akram Khan (59). [ [http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/65693.html Cricinfo Scorecard] : Bangladesh v Pakistan (1997-07-16), retrieved on (2008-01-27) ] He was involved with another century partnership a year later. Against Kenya, he put on 137 for the first wicket with Mohammad Rafiq.Athar's own contriution was 47. This partnership set up Bangladesh's first ever ODI win. [ [http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/66145.htmlcricinfo scorecard] : Bangladesh v Kenya (1998-05-17), Retrieved on (2008-01-27) ] . His best bowling in ODI was 2/33 against India at Mohali in 1997.Sourav Ganguly was one of his victims. [ [http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/66144.html Cricinfo Scorecard] : Bangladesh v India (1998-05-14) Retrieved on (2008-01-27)]

Athar as an ICC Trophy player

Athar played for Bangladesh in three ICC Trophy tournaments, in England in 86, in Kenya in 1994 and finally in Malayasia in 97. He had a disappointing time in England in 86, as he lost his place in the side midway through the trophy, due to lack of form. He had scored only 55 runs from 5 innings. [ [http://www.banglacricket.com/History/icc1986.php BanglaCricket: Bangladesh in ICC Trophy, ICC Trophy 1986, England] (Retrieved on 2008-02-02) ] The wet conditions in England didn't suit Athar's batting technique. After being overlloked for the 1990 trophy in Netherlands, Athar returned for 1994 tournament in Kenya. There also, he failed to live up to the epxectations, scoring only 90 runs from 6 innings. [ [http://www.banglacricket.com/History/icc1994.php BanglaCricket : Bangladesh in ICC Trophy, ICC Trophy 1994, Kenya] (Retrieved on 2008-02-02) ] However, Athar played a big part in Bangladesh's success 3 years later. He scored 170 runs from 9 innings, with 2 not outs, as Bangladesh became the unbeaten champion. [ [http://www.banglacricket.com/History/icc1997.php BanglaCricket :Bangladesh in ICC Trophy, ICC Trophy 1997, Malayasia] (Retrieved on 2008-02-02)]

Athar in other matches

1988 was a highly successful year for Athar Ali Khan. First, at the 2nd South East Asian Cup at Hong Kong Athar scored 92* against Hong Kong, 69* against Singapore in the League matches and followed these with 64 in the final against Hong Kong. He was adjudged the Man-of-the-Match for the final. [ Hasan Babli. "Antorjartik Crickete Bangladesh". Khelar Bhuban Prakashani, Novermeber, 1994. ]

Athar played for Bangladesh in 3 SAARC cricket tournaments in Dhaka. He scored 52 against Sri Lanka A in 1994, to set up a win for his team. [ "Indian Cricket 1995" (Compiled by P.V. Vaidyanathan), Kasturi & Sons Limited,Madras. Published in December 1995. ] .

Outside Cricket

He studied Public Administration at Dhaka University. He is related (through his marriage) to the well known TV actor Tauqir Ahmed.

References

External links

* http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/05/02/sports.htm