2. Happy Birthday, Intikhab Alam (December 28, 1941)
Former Pakistan leg-spinner Intikhab Alam was born on December 28, 1941 in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India. One of the very few bowlers to have taken a wicket on the very first ball in Test cricket, Alam was a traditional leg-spinner, not really of Abdul Qadir’s class but enough to raise Pakistan’s flag high in world cricket during early 1970’s.
Not really known for his batting, Alam had a Test hundred to his name too. In 1973/74 season, under his leadership, Pakistan registered a series win in New Zealand and remained unbeaten in England too.
Alam also became Pakistan’s head coach in 2000 and came back to serve another stint in 2008 after Geoff Lawson got sacked from the post.