Arif Butt

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = Pakistani
country = Pakistan
country abbrev = PAK
name = Arif Butt
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm fast-medium
tests = 3
test runs = 59
test bat avg = 11.80
test 100s/50s = -/-
test top score = 20
test balls = 666
test wickets = 14
test bowl avg = 20.57
test 5s = 1
test 10s = -
test best bowling = 6/89
test catches/stumpings = -/-
FCs = 97
FC runs = 4017
FC bat avg = 29.10
FC 100s/50s = 4/-
FC top score = 180
FC balls = 11879
FC wickets = 201
FC bowl avg = 26.79
FC 5s = 10
FC 10s = 2
FC best bowling = 8/45
FC catches/stumpings = 44/-
debut date =4 December
debut year = 1964
last date =29 January
last year = 1965
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/39003.html

Arif Butt ( _ur. عارف بٹ) (May 17, 1944 – July 11, 2007)

Born in Lahore, Punjab, Butt made his first-class debut for Lahore against Punjab University at the age of 16. Four years later he was chosen to tour Australia, making his Test debut in the only test of the tour at Melbourne he took 6-89 in the first innings, becoming the first Pakistani to take 6 wickets on Test debut. [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BOWLING/TEST_BOWL_6WI_ON_DEBUT.html Six wickets on Test debut] ] He also opened the batting in the Pakistan's second innings, in place of injured wicket keeper Abdul Kadir and blunted the Australian new ball attack for almost an hour.

Pakistan also toured New Zealand in 1964/5 and played a three match test series, Butt played in the first two tests of the series taking 7 wickets at 24.28. In his last test innings, in partnership with Intikhab Alam, he added 52 runs for the ninth wicket to help secure a close fought draw.

He was considered unlucky to have played only 3 tests, despite an impressive bowling average, at a time when Pakistan often struggled to find effective fast bowlers. He bowled a hostile bouncer and a genuine leg cutter and was particularly unfortunate to miss the 1967 tour to England when Pakistan's bowling was often opened by the gentle medium pace of Asif Iqbal.

He learned his cricket at the Friends Cricket Club of Lahore, coached by his uncle Khawaja Abdur Rab, and went on to play first class cricket for Pakistan Railways for 16 years.

He scored a defiant maiden century against Karachi in the 1966-67 Quaid-e-Azam trophy final and, seven years later, led his team as captain to victory in the Patrons Trophy and the Quaid-e-Azam trophy. He took 6 for 55 against Sindh in the Quaid final and scored 718 runs in that season, including a career best 180 as an opening bat. He scored over 4,000 first class runs in all.

He died from heart and lung complications arising from diabetes. His funeral in lahore was attended by a host of former cricketers and officials including Sarfraz Nawaz [http://www.dailyindia.com/show/156586.php/Former-Pak-Test-cricketer-Arif-Butt-dead] .

References