The visit of Pakistan this week brings back memories of the previous encounters – the famous Pakistan International Airlines side including Zaheer Abbas that played at Pembroke and the Mardyke in the late 1960s; the sensational Irish win in Sabina Park; Paul Stirling’s brilliant century at Stormont. But before any of those games, there was a visit to Dublin by a side called the Pakistan Eaglets which included several future first-class and test players.
The Eaglets toured England all summer for several seasons playing club sides, minor counties and county 2nd XIs – in 1959 they played 42 games, including one trip across to Dublin to play Leinster CC in Rathmines in a two-day match.
Leinster strengthened their side with the two outstanding cricketers of the day, Alec O’Riordan (Old Belvedere) and Stanley Bergin (Pembroke) and although there was only hour possible on the first day the home side had to battle to escape with a draw, despite the efforts of Intikab Alam who took 11-67 in the match.
Of the Eaglets side Intikhab Alam, Duncan Sharpe, Mohammed Farooq and Antao d’Souza played tests for Pakistan.
Two day game 11-12 July 1959, Observatory Lane, Rathmines
Pakistan Eaglets
Farrukh A Khan c Notley b O’Riordan 22
Amirullah c&b O’Riordan 32
Ahmed Mustafa b O’Riordan 37
Saeed Bukhsh c Cunningham b Egan 9
Salimuddin c Fitzsimons b O’Riordan 83
Duncan Sharpe c Metchette b Ryan 6
Intikhab Alam not out 0
Antao d’Souza b Ryan 0
Extras 3
Total (for 7 dec) 192
DNB Masood Haider, Mohammad Farooq, Sohrah Khan
Bowling: O’Riordan 4-44, Harkness 0-23, Egan 1-74, Ryan 2-48
Leinster CC
S F Bergin b d’Souza 1
DJ Marchant c Buksh b Farooq 52
JR Notley b Intikhab 26
AJ O’Riordan c Buksh b Intikhab 9
TJ Egan c Sharpe b Intikhab 27
J Cunningham c&b Intikhab 0
F Metchette b Intikhab 0
RJ Fitzsimons b Intikhab 3
J Harkness st Sharpe b Intikhab 2
D Fitzsimons not out 12
AJ Ryan lbw b Intikhab 4
Extras 14
Total all out 150
Bowling: Farooq 1-42, D’Souza 1-34, Amirullah 0-2, Intikhab 8-47, Khan 0-0, Salimuddin 0-11
Pakistan Eaglets
Farrukh Ahmed Khan b O’Riordan 0
Amirullah b O’Riordan 31
Salimuddin b O’Riordan 1
Saeed A Bukhsh not out 25
Ahmed Mustafa not out 5
Extras 0
Total (for 3 dec) 62
Bowling: O’Riordan 3-34, Ryan 0-28
Leinster CC
J Cunningham b Farooq 6
S F Bergin not out 29
JR Notley b Intikhab 2
JH Harkness c Farrukh Ahmed b Intikhab 0
TJ Egan c Sharpe b Farooq 2
DJ Marchant c Sharpe b Intikhab 2
AJ O’Riordan not out 2
Extras 4
Total (for 5) 47
Bowling: Mohammed Farooq 2-23, Intikhab Alam 3-20