Kalat was a first-class cricket team from the Pakistani city of Kalat in the north of Baluchistan province, about 150 kilometres south of Quetta. They had one season of first-class cricket in 1969–70, playing two matches in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
First-class matches
The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy was expanded from a 12-team tournament in 1968–69 to a 20-team tournament in 1969–70, and Kalat were one of the new teams.
Their two matches took place in the space of 11 days in August 1969. Both were played at the Racecourse Ground in Quetta, and Kalat lost both by an innings. In the first match Kalat made 127 and 87 against Quetta, who declared at 402 for 8.[1] In the second match Public Works Department declared at 524 for 4, and dismissed Kalat for 126 and 102.[2]
Nineteen players appeared for Kalat in the two matches, and there were two captains. No batsman totalled 100 runs,[3] and no bowler took five wickets.[4] The highest score was 52 by Abdul Jabbar in the match against Quetta.
When the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy was reduced to an 18-team tournament for 1970–71, Kalat dropped out.
Players
Players who appeared for Kalat in the 1969–70 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first-class matches are listed below:
Name
Notes
Reference
Abdul Jabbar
Played in both of the side's matches, scoring a half-century whilst opening the batting in the first match - the only Kalat batsman to score a half-century in either match. Other than these matches nothing is known about his career.
Played in one match for Kalat, having previously played a single first-class match for Karachi University in 1967/68. Other than these matches nothing is known about his career.
Played in Kalat's first match, taking four wickets in the only innings in which he bowled, making him Kalat's leading wicket-taker in first-class cricket. Played one other first-class match for Public Works Department in 1974/75. Other than these matches nothing is known about his career.
Made his first-class debut in Kalat's second match. Went on to play in 120 first-class and 43 List A matches, including in eight One Day Internationals for Pakistan
Played in Kalat's first match, having previously played two first-class matches for Karachi University in 1967/68 and one for Karachi Schools in 1960/61. Played another first-class match for National Bank of Pakistan later in the 1969/70 season. Other than these matches nothing is known about his career.
Captained Kalat in their first first-class match. Other than this he is not known to have played any other cricket. Was a notable commentator and journalist who pioneered cricket commentary in Urdu.
Kalat currently compete in the annual sub-first-class Inter-District Senior Tournament against other teams from Baluchistan province.[24] They play their home matches at various grounds in Quetta.