Athar Ali Khan (; born 10 February 1962) is a Bangladeshi cricket commentator and former cricketer. Throughout the 1980s, Athar played as a middle order batsman, batting mostly at No. 4 or 5.
Later on, encouraged by the Indian Test cricketer, Mohinder Amarnath, Athar started opening regularly for the Bangladesh national cricket team. He was also an occasional slow medium pacer.Cricinfo Player Page: Athar Ali Khan:(Retrieved on 25 December 2007). His ancestors were from Uttar Pradesh in India.
International career Early years In 1984, Athar played for the Bangladesh Tigers in the first South East Asian Cup. A year later, he played in a three-day match against Sri Lanka in Dhaka. During the 1984-85 season, he was part of the Dhaka University team which won the national cricket title. In the semi-final, against Dhaka district, Athar scored 155 and shared a record stand of 447 with Tariquzzaman Munir (who scored 308).
Prominence In October 1988, he was Bangladesh's best performer in the Wills Asia Cup at Dhaka. He scored 16 against India, 22 against Pakistan and 30 against Sri Lanka. Then on the final day of 1990, he entertained the huge 50,000-strong crowd at Eden Garden, Calcutta with a score of 78* against Sri Lanka. His innings included three huge sixes. Although Bangladesh lost the match, Athar was adjudged the Man-of-the-Match.Cricinfo Scorecard: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (31 December 1990), Retrieved on (25 December 2007).
Athar's highest ODI score (82) came against Pakistan in 1997. There, he put on a century partnership (110) with skipper Akram Khan (59).Cricinfo Scorecard: Bangladesh v Pakistan (16 July 1997), retrieved on (27 January 2008) He was involved with another century partnership a year later. Against Kenya, he put on 137 for the first wicket with Mohammad Rafiq. Athar's own contribution was 47. This partnership set up Bangladesh's first ever ODI win. His best bowling in ODI was 2/33 against India at Mohali in 1997. Sourav Ganguly was one of his victims.Cricinfo Scorecard: Bangladesh v India (14 May 1998) Retrieved on (27 January 2008)
Athar played for Bangladesh in three ICC Trophy tournaments, in England in 1986, in Kenya in 1994 and finally in Malaysia in 1997. He had a disappointing time in England in '86, as he lost his place in the side midway through the trophy, due to lack of form. He had scored only 55 runs from 5 innings.BanglaCricket: Bangladesh in ICC Trophy, ICC Trophy 1986, England (Retrieved on 2 February 2008) The wet conditions in England did not suit Athar's batting technique. After being overlooked for the 1990 trophy in Netherlands, Athar returned for 1994 tournament in Kenya. There also, he failed to live up to the expectations, scoring only 90 runs from 6 innings.BanglaCricket : Bangladesh in ICC Trophy, ICC Trophy 1994, Kenya (Retrieved on 2 February 2008) However, Athar played a big part in Bangladesh's success 3 years later. He scored 170 runs from 9 innings, with 2 not outs, as Bangladesh became the unbeaten champion.BanglaCricket :Bangladesh in ICC Trophy, ICC Trophy 1997, Malayasia (Retrieved on 2 February 2008)
Beyond internationals 1988 was a highly successful year for Athar Ali Khan. First, at the 2nd South East Asian Cup at Hong Kong Athar scored 92 not out against Hong Kong, 69 not out against Singapore in the League matches and followed these with 64 in the final against Hong Kong. He was adjudged the Man-of-the-Match for the final.Hasan Babli. "Antorjartik Crickete Bangladesh". Khelar Bhuban Prakashani, November 1994.
Athar played for Bangladesh in 3 South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation cricket tournaments in Dhaka. He scored 52 against Sri Lanka A in 1994, to set up a win for his team."Indian Cricket 1995" (Compiled by P.V. Vaidyanathan), Kasturi & Sons Limited, Madras. Published in December 1995.
Outside cricket He studied public administration at Dhaka University.
International awards One Day International Cricket Man of the Match awards S No Opponent Venue Date Match performance Result 1 Sri Lanka Eden Gardens, Kolkata 31 December 1990 4-0-24-0; 78* (95 balls) won by 71 runs.
References
External links
Athar Ali Khan at CricketArchive Athar Ali Khan at Cricinfo