Traditionally left-arm spinners have seldom had the luxury of consistently being in the spotlight in the long history of Test cricket. In general they have been regarded as unsung heroes. These men, who are also popularly referred to as slow left-armers, mostly turn the ball from leg to off in an orthodox manner. A match-winning bowler from this species is rare, particularly in the modern era.

The most successful of all slow southpaws in Test matches is Daniel Vettori, the former New Zealand captain, the only bowler of this type to claim 300 wickets (360 in 112 matches and still playing).

Pakistan, over the years, has relied more on pace than spin as its chief strike weapon in international arena, especially in Test cricket. While examining Pakistan’s cricket history, one finds just a handful of left-arm spinners who have donned the green cap.

In its early days of Test cricket, Pakistan struggled to find noteworthy slow left-armers, although Shujauddin Butt did pick up 20 wickets in 19 Tests between 1954 and 1962 in a modest career as an all-rounder.

The arrival of Nasim-ul-Ghani on the scene during Pakistan’s maiden voyage to the West Indies in 1958 offered the first glimpse of hope. He was the youngest Test debutant at the time when played in the opening game in Bridgetown at the age of 16 years and 248 days and subsequently became the youngest-ever (at 16 years, 303 days) to bag five wickets in an innings during the third Test of the same series in Georgetown.

Nasim was also instrumental in helping Pakistan secure its first win against the West Indies when he bagged eight wickets in the fifth Test at Port of Spain, including six for 62 in the second innings.

Nasim, who had the honour of scoring Pakistan’s first Test century in England during the 1962 Lord’s Test where he was sent in as a nightwatchman, finished with 52 wickets in 29 Tests in his career which ended in January 1973.

Pervez Sajjad, younger brother of Test batsman Waqar Hasan, was unlucky as Nasim was because during the period he emerged Pakistan played few Test matches. A fine bowler in his own right, Pervez snared 59 wickets in 19 Tests from 1964 to 1973.

But it was the unassuming figure of Iqbal Qasim that finally provided Pakistan the sort of bowler it had been crying for in desperation for so long. He became Pakistan’s most successful slow left-armer with a rich haul of 171 wickets in 50 Test appearances with a best of 7-49 against Australia at Karachi in 1980 — among his eight five-for.

A team man to the core, Iqbal never grumbled despite not being considered, on a number of occasions. He was not an automatic selection after marking his Test debut against Australia at Adelaide in December 1976. Javed Miandad, for one, however, was a huge fan of Iqbal and trusted him the most during his several stints as Pakistan captain.

As a result Iqbal thus far is the only Pakistani left-arm spinner to cross the 100-wicket mark in Tests. Among all slow left-armers in Test history since the Second World War, Iqbal had the fourth best average (28.11) and eighth best strike rate (76.1) in the 100-plus wicket category.

Fondly regarded as one of architects in Pakistan’s first series victory in India when he and off-spinner Tauseef Ahmed starred with nine wickets on a Bangalore ‘minefield’ in 1987, Iqbal, as always, proved his worth after he wasn’t in the original squad for that tour.

A thorough gentleman throughout his playing days (1976-1988), Iqbal once took a sickening blow on his chin from a Bob Willis bouncer when he bravely confronted the big England fast bowler during the Edgbaston Test of the 1978 series.

A two-time former chairman of selectors, Iqbal has served Pakistan cricket with dignity.

Pakistan since then tried a number of specialist slow left-armers — Nadeem Ghauri, Masood Anwar, Nadeem Khan, Mohammad Hussain, etc., — but none succeeded in meeting the high standards set by Iqbal. But incumbent Abdur Rehman has revived the art to a large extent as he closes in on the magical figure of 100 Test wickets.

The writer is a member of staff.

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