Tariq Iqbal was born on this day, 1964.
I am not sure how many remember him.
We probably agree that miracles are rare in cricket.
A miracle inside a miracle, rarer.
The names of Tariq Iqbal and Brian Lara will forever be taken together in one such second-degree miracle.
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I am not sure how many remember him.
We probably agree that miracles are rare in cricket.
A miracle inside a miracle, rarer.
The names of Tariq Iqbal and Brian Lara will forever be taken together in one such second-degree miracle.
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The incident took place in Pune, during the 1996 World Cup.
Kenya, playing their first World Cup, scored 165. Then they famously bowled out West Indies for 93.
Tariq was the Kenyan wicketkeeper for this match.
Tariq wore glasses, so his eyesight was not great.
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Kenya, playing their first World Cup, scored 165. Then they famously bowled out West Indies for 93.
Tariq was the Kenyan wicketkeeper for this match.
Tariq wore glasses, so his eyesight was not great.
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He was also overweight. The Guardian observed that Tariq wore "a blue headband and a double chin" while keeping wickets.
But the worst bit was that his glovework was also ordinary.
How or why was he keeping wickets in a World Cup match?
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But the worst bit was that his glovework was also ordinary.
How or why was he keeping wickets in a World Cup match?
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Because the redoubtable Kennedy Otieno was injured, and Tariq was the only other person in the side with any experience of keeping wickets.
To be fair, Tariq was not a poor batsman. Kenya Times:
"Bats with lots of courage and has the ability to hit the ball very hard...
To be fair, Tariq was not a poor batsman. Kenya Times:
"Bats with lots of courage and has the ability to hit the ball very hard...
"Every time he occupies the crease in the league matches fielders can expect a torturous time."
Here, he had scored 16 in 32 balls. Not bad in a team total of 165. None of his teammates reached 30.
Then he took his place behind the stumps. And the fun began.
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Here, he had scored 16 in 32 balls. Not bad in a team total of 165. None of his teammates reached 30.
Then he took his place behind the stumps. And the fun began.
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Soon, a ball from Rajab Ali hit Richie Richardson on the pad.
Tariq strolled (no other word for it) towards his left.
The ball raced to the fence.
At the other end, a ball from Martin Suji kept low.
Sherwin Campbell shouldered arms.
Tariq knelt on his left knee.
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Tariq strolled (no other word for it) towards his left.
The ball raced to the fence.
At the other end, a ball from Martin Suji kept low.
Sherwin Campbell shouldered arms.
Tariq knelt on his left knee.
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The ball brushed against his left thigh. Four byes, obviously.
In the next over he dropped Richardson. Four.
Three overs, three boundaries, one dropped catch.
Guardian: "... had dropped the ball so many times before that his own bowlers were laughing at him".
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In the next over he dropped Richardson. Four.
Three overs, three boundaries, one dropped catch.
Guardian: "... had dropped the ball so many times before that his own bowlers were laughing at him".
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Wisden (usually neutral): "... stout figure and village-standard juggling had hitherto caused much mirth".
But Kenya took out Richardson and Campbell without the assistance Tariq.
22/2, but the target was only 165... and LARA was still there.
Then it happened.
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But Kenya took out Richardson and Campbell without the assistance Tariq.
22/2, but the target was only 165... and LARA was still there.
Then it happened.
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Rajab Ali pitched the ball outside off.
Down came Lara's bat from the famous high backlift, but it was a tad too close to his body.
Lara edged it.
The catch took Tariq. Not the other way round. Definitely not the other way round.
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Down came Lara's bat from the famous high backlift, but it was a tad too close to his body.
Lara edged it.
The catch took Tariq. Not the other way round. Definitely not the other way round.
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The Daily Telegraph: "The ball sank somewhere into his nether regions and the gloves clutched desperately, trying to locate it. Then, glory be, it reappeared in his hands and was raised aloft in triumph and relief."
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Tariq actually took a couple of seconds to figure out what had just happened. Then he appealed.
And got the big wicket. The West Indian middle order collapsed against Maurice Odumbe.
The Daily Mirror (Kenya) ran the headline next morning:
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And got the big wicket. The West Indian middle order collapsed against Maurice Odumbe.
The Daily Mirror (Kenya) ran the headline next morning:
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"Lara is Shamed by a 15-Stone Shopkeeper, a Dentist and a Tennis Player"
The dentist was Dipak Chudasama; the tennis player, Aasif Karim.
Otieno recovered, and Tariq Iqbal never played another ODI.
He did not need to. We still remember him.
The dentist was Dipak Chudasama; the tennis player, Aasif Karim.
Otieno recovered, and Tariq Iqbal never played another ODI.
He did not need to. We still remember him.
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