Athar Ali

Athar Ali (date of birth unknown) was a East Pakistani cricketer who played two first-class matches for East Pakistan during the 1954–55 season. A fast bowler, Athar's first recorded match came for an East Pakistan Governor's XI against a visiting team led by Pakistan captain Abdul Kardar, following the national side's 1952–53 tour of India. His debut for East Pakistan came against a Combined Services team in November 1954, during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which was the team's first match at first-class level. In the match, played at the Club Ground in Dhaka, Athar opened the bowling with Pritish Dass in each innings, and took 3/46 in Services' first innings, dismissing Abdul Kardar, Herbert Stanley, and Shujauddin. Athar's second and final match at first-class level came against the touring Indian national side in late December 1954, the first match of a three-month tour (and one of only two played in East Pakistan). In that match, played at the Niaz Stadium in Chittagong, he took the wickets of Madhav Mantri and Vijay Manjrekar, bowling first change behind Munawwar Ali Khan and Ikram Elahi. Athar did not play any further matches for East Pakistan, and thus finished his career with five wickets from two matches, at an average of 19.00.