Today’s cricket fans may not recognize Jalal-ud-Din yet his status as a former Pakistani fast bowler engraves him into cricket history books. He gained his place in cricket history by executing the very first hat-trick in One Day International cricket by striking out Rod Marsh and Bruce Yardley and Geoff Lawson from Australia in 1982. Nearly forty-three years later, Jalal-ud-Din retains crystal-clear memories of that historic match. Before he became injured he secured the position to join Pakistan’s England tour following his stood-out domestic season.
“Initially, I was not selected for that match. Imran Khan was the captain, but he came late from England for this match, and he couldn’t acclimatise to the conditions in time so he withdrew from the match. Since I was part of the camp and had claimed a fifer in a side game against Australia, I was brought in”. He said.
The hat-trick achievement together with the dismissal of Allan Border allowed me to finish the match with four important wickets during my performance. He remembers every detail of that Hyderabad Sindh province match which took place in his memory.
“We have developed a U-15 programme for young cricketers in Karachi. It’s a long-term three-year programme, and I believe that we can produce more talent from Pakistan if we can work at the grassroots. Our kids have talent, but we need to develop them and ensure that they don’t struggle going forward. That’s why this programme will help us produce more cricketers,” he added.
The length of his international career spanned three years and fifteen matches but he succeeded in securing 25 wickets until he finished his playing career with 261 first-class wickets.
