Name Hindi: सबा करीम / Gender Man
Saba Karim
Syed Saba Karim was an effective player for the Indian cricket team, recognized not just for his skill on the field but also for his disciplinarian approach to the game. His dedicated performances had helped him secure a valuable position as a wicket-keeper batsman in international cricket during his active career years.
Early Life and Entry into Cricket
Born on November 14, 1967, Bihar, India. He first debuted onto the scene of professional cricket at the age of 21. Before this, he completed his education from St.Xavier’s College in Ranchi where he laid down the foundation for his cricketing career.
Career Highlights
- In between late 1980s and early 2000s, he played as an efficient left-handed batsman and wicket-keeper triggering several victories for his team both in domestic and international cricket matches.
- Karim represented Bihar in first-class cricket until 1994 before moving to Bengal, where he continued to grace the pitch till 2000. During this time period, he accumulated over seven thousand runs across two hundred and twenty innings with an average score above forty-five.
- In 34 One Day Internationals (ODIs) that he featured in between April 1997 till May 2000, it was observed that while batting Karim maintained an average run rate slightly below twenty-six including one notable half-century score.
- Saba Karim became part of history when he joined the national squad representing India at the 1999 World Cricket Cup tournament hosted by England. However, unfortunately an injury during a match against Bangladesh led to the premature ending of his cricketing journey.
Post Retirement Contribution
Karim did not limit his contribution to just gameplay, but also lent invaluable services in the form of selection panel member and commentator after his retirement from active sport. His superior understanding of the game and passion for talent nourishment added much strength to these roles.
- In 2012, he was appointed as a national selector by BCCI for an initial period which got extended due their satisfaction with his work.
- The highlight moment came when in early January 2018 he was assigned the key portfolio of General Manager – Cricket Operations at BCCI where he continues to supervise domestic cricket operations and implement policies besides other responsibilities.
- Saba Karim is also popular among Indian households thanks to his incisive analysis during pre-match and post-match broadcast shows on television.
