Profile
Arshad Ayub was born on August 2, 1958, in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. He’s a former off-spinner who played for India in 13 Test matches and 32 One-Day Internationals between 1987 and 1994. The mini-all-rounder Arshad Ayub normally bowled straight and away-going deliveries more often than he did the off-break. These kinds of deliveries often surprise the batsman with their sharpness and quick speed.
Test Career
In 1987–88, Arshad Ayub made his Test debut against the powerful West Indies side in Delhi. He showed excellent class in his debut match and took four wickets while the West Indies were chasing 276 in the fourth inning. Arshad Ayub’s lone battle didn’t work; picking up four of the five West Indies wickets chased the score. He played the last Test against Pakistan at Lahore in 1989 and couldn’t get any wickets in his 49-over spell on a slow pitch.
In 1988, Arshad Ayub tormented the New Zealand side, taking 21 wickets in a three-match Test series. His brilliant contribution played a vital role in winning the series 2-1. In the first Test at Bangalore, he took 8 for 104; eventually, India won.
In the 2nd Test Match at Mumbai, he picked up 5 for 50, which was his career-best bowling on the highest level of cricket; however, India lost the match by 136 runs. So, in the deciding Test Match at Hyderabad (Deccan), he picked up 4 for 55 and 3 for 36 (7/91) and went on to help India win the match by 10 wickets.
After that, he went with the Indian side to tour the West Indies in 1988–89, where he just managed to take 14 wickets in a 4-match series. However, India lost the series by a 3-0 margin. In the first test match at Georgetown, he picked 5 for 104. In the 2nd Test at Bridgetown, he grabbed 1 for 55 and 1 for 26. In the third Test at Port of Spain, he took 5 for 117 and none for 50. Hence, in the final Test match at Kingston, Arshad’s bowling analysis was 2 for 99.
After that, he went to Pakistan, where he was treated like a street bowler. He played two matches but unfortunately didn’t get any wickets, which eventually ended his Test career. Overall, he played 13 Test matches for India and took 41 wickets at 35.07, with three times he picked up five wickets. He appeared in 32 ODI’s for India and grabbed 31 wickets at an average of 39.22, with the career-best figure of 5 for 21.
Personal Information
Arshad Ayub has four children: Amaal Ayub, Ambreen Ayub, Ammar Ayub, and Aqib Ayub.
After Retirement
In 1998, Arshad Ayub took the step to open the AACA (Arshad Ayub Cricket Academy) in Hyderabad to transform his experience for youth. His contribution made a giant leap in this city and introduced many at all levels—under 14, under 16, under 19, and under 22—to to Ranji Trophy. He became Indian cricket manager on the tour of Bangladesh in 2010 and for the World Cup in 2015.
Also, read Farokh Engineer
Arshad Ayub Stats
