In the 1980s, West Indies were an unstoppable force. First under Clive Lloyd, and then when Viv Richards took over, the Caribbeans were practically invincible wherever they played Test cricket, sweeping all before them with a justified arrogance that bordered on the disdainful.
Throughout that decade, they lost just eight out of 82 Tests, a majority of them fashioned by spinners – the Australian pair of Bob Holland and Allan Border on separate occasions, India’s Narendra Hirwani in Chennai in 1988.
It was in keeping with their vulnerabilities against the turning ball that Abdul Qadir orchestrated an extraordinary script at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on this day in 1986, the fourth day of the first Test. Qadir was a fabulous leg-spinner, all bounding run-up and an allure multiplied by his unique action, flowing mane and a French beard. West Indies seemed on course for another regulation victory when, after bowling out Pakistan for 159, they replied with 248 and a lead of 89. Even when Pakistan made 328 in the second innings, there didn’t seem to be too many causes for concern, though West Indies’ travails in the fourth innings against spin couldn’t be discounted, either.
Richards’ men began their chase of 240 for a 1-0 lead sometime after tea on the fourth evening, looking to get to 50 or 60 and leave themselves with not too daunting a task on the final day. Well, Qadir had other ideas. After skipper Imran Khan had shown the way by packing off Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes, it was time for the Qadir show.
The leggie mesmerized the rest of the batting to send the visitors plummeting to 43 for nine by stumps, among his victims Viv Richards for a two-ball duck. On the final day, 29 October 2000, he had Malcolm Marshall caught and bowled as West Indies were shot out for 53, still the lowest score in a Test innings in Pakistan. Qadir had the unbelievable figures of 9.3-1-16-6.
