4 famous players who studied at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge

The game of cricket demands hard work, dedication, and commitment since early childhood in order to be successful. The players are unable to complete their formal education since cricket takes a lot of time away from studies. Few players like Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble completed their engineering and yet made their name as a cricketer.

There have been few cricket players who went to prestigious institutions such as Oxford University and Cambridge University in England. They finished their studies and also played for their national sides.

#4 Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi

Mansoor was nicknamed the ‘Tiger Pataudi’ by his teammates. He made his debut against England in 1961. At 21, he was the youngest player to lead the Indian cricket team. Overall, he played 46 Test matches for India.

He studied at Lockers Park Prep school in Hertfordshire, England and for his college; he went to Balliol College, Oxford. Khan studied Arabic and French and was an excellent student.

Besides cricket, he represented Oxford University in hockey and billiards. Pataudi also played football as a midfielder.

#3 Majid Khan

Majid Khan made his debut for Pakistan against Australia in 1964. His career spanned 19 years, but he could only play 63 Test matches. He was one of the first batsmen who did not believe in the footwork. Later, Virender Sehwag proved him right by following his batting style.

His father Jahangir Khan was an illustrious player of Cambridge University during the 1930s. Khan was the cousin brother of Imran Khan. Majid studied at the Cambridge University and led their team ‘Cambridge Blue’ from 1971 to 1972.

They called him the ‘Majestic Khan’ because of his ability to devastate any bowling attack.

#2 Abbas Ali Baig

Abbas was a right-handed batsman who played 12 Test matches for India between 1959 and 1966. At 20, he was the youngest Indian to score a Test century on the debut. Baig went to England for his undergraduate education at the University College, Oxford. He studied philosophy and English and earned a Blue at Oxford.

Baig was a great timer of the ball and had earned a reputation of being an attacking batsman. Besides being a batsman, he was also a leg-break bowler who could ball googly and floaters with equal ease.

#1 Imran Khan

Imran made his test debut against England in Edgbaston during the 1971 season. It was on his mother’s insistence he quit the national side to study in England.

He belonged to an affluent family in Pakistan, so he went to Royal Grammar School at Worcester in England. Khan played cricket and created a name for him at the school. He enrolled himself into Keble College, Oxford in 1972 where he studied philosophy, politics, and economics. He graduated with honors in 1975.

Khan was a member of the University of Oxford’s Blues cricket and also played the county cricket at Worcestershire. After he returned to Pakistan, he secured a place in the national side during the 1976-77 season.