Born on 2nd August , 1958, in Hyderabad , of Andhra Pradesh, Arshad Ayub, was a right-arm offbreak bowler, and a right-hand batsman.

Arshad Ayub had represented India in 13 Tests and 32 One-Day Internationals.

Arsad`s hallmark was his meticulous adherence to perfection in his bowling, rather than to movement .

Arshad Ayub`s Test debut occurred in the India Vs West Indies series , held at Delhi, on November , 1987. Arshad attested his prowess in the very first Test. He conquered four out of the five wickets that was grabbed from West Indies, in the second innings. It was only the non-challant Vivian Richards, who arrested the aggressive approach of Arshad Ayub.

Arshad, turned out to be a productive tail-end batsman. In the third Test, even after batting in a ninth wicket stand, Arshad Ayub, could reach a brilliant half-century, a 57, which was a commendable effort on the part of a lower-order batsman. This 57 was also the highest score , obtained by him in the entire Test career.

Arshad Ayub, rose to prominence in the following season too. He was one of the prime factors behind the triumph of India in the series against New Zealand. A magnificent Arshad could easily procure an enormous 21 wickets, in three Tests.

Only a hew months later, Arshad Ayub made a name for himself in the foreign land also. In the four Tests, that happened in the Carribbean , against the opponent West Indies squad, Arshad could gather fourteen glorious wickets, a feat , worth remembering on a foreign pitch. These marvellous achievement , consisted of two five-wickets seizure.

Unfortunately post this expedition, in the series against Pakistan, at Lahore, on December 1989, Arshad Ayub`s performance-standards declined sharply. He ended up without carrying a single wicket.

It is interesting to note , that a few days after his Test debut , Arshad Ayub, underwent his first ODI debut. He appeared for the first time in the India Vs West Indies ODI at Nagpur on December 8, 1987.

Ayub was excellent in ODIs . In 1988, Arshad Ayub deliverd a fabulous spell of 5 wickets for 21, in the Asia Cup Final at Dhaka, against Pakistan. His wonderful deeds ensured and brought India , her much-covetted victory.

The last ODI of Arshad Ayub was the India Vs Sri Lanka at Margao, on 8th December, 1990. Arshad Ayub, reaffirmed the good player that he was, and procured the wicket of AP Gurusinha .

Hyderabad , was the other team, that Arshad Ayub has played for. This allrounder could boast of a considerably fair 2224 runs, and 268 wickets .

Arshad Ayub, is one among those short-term, yet distinguished players, who within their brief stay, can exhibit before the world , the extraordinary qualities, they innately possess.