Aftab Baloch

Aftab Baloch (Urdu: آفتاب بلوچ‎) (born April 1, 1953 in Karachi, Sindh) is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in two Tests from 1969 to 1975. A right-handed middle order batsman and capable right arm offbreak bowler, Baloch is best known for being a member of the 400 club.

The feat was achieved in a game for Sind at the National Stadium in Karachi during the season of 1973/74. After bowling out their opponents Baluchistan for 93, Sind responded with 951 for 7 declared. Captaining the side, Baloch made 428 of those runs.[1] At the time it was the 6th highest score by a batsman in first-class cricket history and he was the 7th player to pass the 400 run milestone. The final margin of an innings and 575 runs made it one of the most one sided games of all time.[2] Baloch was rewarded with a tour of England but he didn't play a Test. His record-breaking innings, however, kept following him around; he was by coincidence given room 428 in their team hotel.[3]

A year later, in February 1975, Baloch was recalled again to the side. He had made his debut back in November 1969 at the age of just 16 and 221 days. This made him the second youngest Test player in history.[4] Playing against New Zealand at Dhaka, Baloch made 25 runs in the 1st innings before being bowled by Vic Pollard. Needing just 184 runs for victory in the 4th innings, Baloch was not required to bat.

Recalled back into the side, Baloch lined up at number 7 in the Pakistani batting lineup for a Test against the West Indies at Lahore. He made 12 in his first dig and was one of Keith Boyce's 3 victims. When Baloch came into bat in what would be his final Test innings, his side where leading the West Indies by 199 runs and had 5 wickets in hand. Baloch made an unbeaten 60 and helped to put his side 358 runs clear but the West Indies managed to hang on for a draw.