Syed Abid Ali: Hyderabad Cricket Legend Who Bowled the First Ball in India's First ODI Match Passes Away

Syed Abid Ali, the former Indian cricketer who bowled the first ball in India’s first-ever ODI match against England in 1974, has passed away at the age of 83. He was a cricket legend from Hyderabad and became famous for this unforgettable moment in the history of Indian cricket.

Abid Ali, after his cricket career, settled in California, USA. He passed away due to health issues, as confirmed by his relative, Reza Khan. Many former Indian cricketers expressed their condolences after hearing the sad news of his death.

Abid Ali represented India between 1967 and 1974. His notable contribution came on July 13, 1974, when India played its first-ever ODI match against England in Leeds. Ali bowled the first ball in that match, marking an important milestone in Indian cricket history.

In his cricket career, he played 29 Test matches, scoring 1,018 runs, including six half-centuries. He also took 47 wickets in Tests. In ODIs, he played five matches, scoring 93 runs and taking 7 wickets. During the 1975 ODI World Cup, he became the top scorer for India with 70 runs off 98 balls against New Zealand. Remarkably, this match was his last ODI appearance.