Commonwealth XI cricket team in Pakistan in 1963–64

A Commonwealth XI cricket team of 14 players visited Pakistan between early November and mid-December 1963, playing six first-class matches including three five-day matches against Pakistan. The Commonwealth XI won the match against a Punjab Governor's XI, and the other five matches ended in draws.^[1][2]

Team

The team consisted of six players from England, five from the West Indies, and one each from Australia, Pakistan and South Africa.

• Peter Richardson (captain, England)
• Bill Alley (Australia)
• Keith Andrew (England)
• Basil Butcher (West Indies)
• Basil D'Oliveira (South Africa)
• Tom Graveney (England)
• Charlie Griffith (West Indies)
• Rohan Kanhai (West Indies)
• Khalid Ibadulla (Pakistan)
• John Murray (England)
• Seymour Nurse (West Indies)
• Ken Palmer (England)
• Doug Slade (England)
• Chester Watson (West Indies)

The team was managed by Alf Gover.^[2]

The tour

There were six first-class matches. Individual centuries and five-wicket hauls are included in the scores below.

• BCCP XI v Commonwealth XI, Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad, 8, 9, 10 November 1963. BCCP XI 293 for 8 dec. and 147 for 4 dec; Commonwealth XI 293 and 36 for 1. Drawn.^[3]

• Pakistan v Commonwealth XI, National Stadium, Karachi, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 November 1963. Commonwealth XI 442 (Kanhai 129) and 452 for 8; Pakistan 464 (Mushtaq Mohammad 178). Drawn.^[4]

• President's XI v Commonwealth XI, Pindi Club Ground, Rawalpindi, 22, 23, 24 November 1963. President's XI 205 for 9 dec. and 274 for 7 dec.; Commonwealth XI 281 for 6 dec. and 70 for 6. Drawn.^[5]

• Punjab Governor's XI v Commonwealth XI, Bohranwala Ground, Lyallpur, 25, 26, 27 November 1963. Punjab Governor's XI 179 and 167; Commonwealth XI 246 (D'Oliveira 115) and 102 for no wickets. Commonwealth XI won by 10 wickets.^[6]

• Pakistan v Commonwealth XI, Lahore Stadium, Lahore, 29, 30 November, 1, 3, 4 December 1963. Commonwealth XI 630 for 9 dec. (Kanhai 161, Graveney 164) and 250 for 2 (Graveney 107 not out, Ibadulla 103 not out); Pakistan 580 (Mushtaq Mohammad 159; Slade 6 for 126). Drawn.^[7]

• Pakistan v Commonwealth XI, Dacca Stadium, Dacca, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 December 1963. Commonwealth XI 234 and 344 for 6 dec. (Nurse 126 not out); Pakistan 318 (Saeed Ahmed 100) and 223 for 4. Drawn.^[8]

Batsmen dominated on the slow, bare pitches.^[2] Eleven of the 14 Commonwealth XI players averaged 30 or more with the bat. Graveney was the leading run-scorer, with 500 runs at an average of 100.^[9] Only three of the bowlers took more than seven wickets: Slade took 21 wickets at an average of 22.33, Griffith took 15 at 28.93, and D'Oliveira took 13 at 30.08.^[10]