February 1955 brought another memorable chapter in the early India–Pakistan cricket rivalry. The teams arrived at the scenic Peshawar Club Ground for the opening Test of the 1955 series, played from February 13 to 16. The atmosphere was electric, Peshawar was hosting its first-ever Test, and thousands flocked to witness cricket history.
Led by Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Pakistan fielded a confident side well-versed in home conditions, while Vijay Hazare, captaining India, aimed to repeat the composure and discipline that defined India’s rise in early Test cricket.
What followed was a gripping contest of attrition. Batting dominated, bowlers toiled long hours, and both teams displayed remarkable patience, eventually leading to a hard-fought draw, typical of the slow, defensive cricket of that era.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Pakistan vs India – 1st Test |
| Dates | 13–16 February 1955 |
| Venue | Peshawar Club Ground, Peshawar |
| Toss | Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | Match Drawn |
| Match Format | 5-day Test |
| Umpires | Idrees Baig & Ahmed Khan |
| Significance | First-ever Test match hosted in Peshawar |
Team Lineups
| Pakistan (Playing XI) | India (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| A. H. Kardar (c) | Vijay Hazare (c) |
| Hanif Mohammad | Pankaj Roy |
| Alimuddin | Datta Gaekwad |
| Maqsood Ahmed | Polly Umrigar |
| Saeed Ahmed | Vijay Manjrekar |
| Wazir Mohammad | Ghulam Ahmed |
| Imtiaz Ahmed (wk) | Subhash Gupte |
| Zulfiqar Ahmed | Probir Sen (wk) |
| Khan Mohammad | Chandu Sarwate |
| Mahmood Hussain | G. S. Ramchand |
| Shujauddin | Vinoo Mankad |
Pakistan 1st Innings – 199 all out
Winning the toss, Pakistan chose to bat on a slow, low Peshawar surface. The Indian spinners quickly found assistance, making run-scoring difficult.
Hanif Mohammad (43) played patiently as always, showing immaculate technique. But once he fell, wickets tumbled regularly. Maqsood Ahmed (37) and Kardar (28) steadied the innings briefly, yet India’s bowling discipline kept the hosts in check.
The star of the innings was Subhash Gupte (5/79), the leg-spin magician who dismantled the middle order with flight, turn, and bounce.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Hanif Mohammad | 43 | c Sen b Gupte |
| Alimuddin | 18 | b Mankad |
| Maqsood Ahmed | 37 | c Hazare b Gupte |
| Saeed Ahmed | 11 | b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Wazir Mohammad | 19 | c Umrigar b Ramchand |
| A. H. Kardar (c) | 28 | b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Imtiaz Ahmed (wk) | 12 | c Gaekwad b Mankad |
| Zulfiqar Ahmed | 7 | b Gupte |
| Khan Mohammad | 5 | b Gupte |
| Mahmood Hussain | 6 | lbw Gupte |
| Shujauddin | 2* | Not out |
| Extras | 13 | |
| Total | 199 all out | 82 overs |
India 1st Innings – 252 all out
India responded with determination. Opening bat Pankaj Roy (60) provided a solid start with controlled strokeplay. Vijay Manjrekar (48) and Polly Umrigar (43) played valuable knocks in the middle order.
However, Pakistan’s spinners kept chipping away. Zulfiqar Ahmed (4/74) bowled beautifully, using drift and turn to trouble even the most assured Indian batsmen.
India managed 252, securing a lead of 53 runs.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Pankaj Roy | 60 | c Imtiaz b Mahmood Hussain |
| Datta Gaekwad | 18 | b Khan Mohammad |
| Vijay Hazare (c) | 12 | c Kardar b Zulfiqar |
| Polly Umrigar | 43 | b Zulfiqar |
| Vijay Manjrekar | 48 | c Shujauddin b Mahmood Hussain |
| Ghulam Ahmed | 22 | b Zulfiqar |
| Vinoo Mankad | 9 | b Zulfiqar |
| Ramchand | 19 | b Shujauddin |
| Subhash Gupte | 6 | c Wazir b Khan Mohammad |
| Chandu Sarwate | 7* | Not out |
| Probir Sen (wk) | 5 | b Shujauddin |
| Extras | 3 | |
| Total | 252 all out | 90 overs |
Pakistan 2nd Innings – 110/3 (Match Drawn)
Pakistan began their second innings cautiously. Alimuddin (43)* and Hanif Mohammad (34) showed immense patience, batting with the singular aim of saving the match. With the pitch becoming slower and lower, strokeplay became increasingly difficult.
India’s spinners bowled tight lines, yet couldn’t produce breakthroughs quickly enough.
As time ran out on Day 4, the captains shook hands, confirming the match as a draw.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Hanif Mohammad | 34 | c Roy b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Alimuddin | 43* | Not out |
| Maqsood Ahmed | 8 | b Gupte |
| Saeed Ahmed | 13 | b Mankad |
| Wazir Mohammad | 5* | Not out |
| Extras | 7 | |
| Total | 110/3 | (Match drawn) |
Match Drawn
Highlights of the Match
- The first-ever Test match held in Peshawar ended in a battling draw.
- Subhash Gupte’s 5/79 was a standout performance, showcasing his world-class leg-spin.
- Alimuddin’s calm and composed 43 in the second innings helped Pakistan save the match.
- Pankaj Roy’s solid 60 provided India a crucial first-innings lead.
- Both teams showed patience and defensive grit, a hallmark of early subcontinental Tests.