Probir Sen: The first Bengali cricketer to play Test cricket in the 1940s

Bangladesh made their debut in Test cricket only couples of decades ago though the country's connection with Test cricket dates back in the 1800s.

Australia's Bransby Cooper, born in 1844, was the first cricketer born in British India (now Dhaka) to play Test cricket. But obviously, he was not originally from this part of the world and was born here because of his family's presence here due to work purposes.

Then who is the first cricketer of Bangladeshi origin to play Test cricket? The answer is a bit interesting because his name went through quite a few evolutionary changes.

His name is actually Probir Sen but he was better known as Khokan, because of his short stature. But somehow his name was wrongly registered (as 'Khokhan'). 

Sen was born in Cumilla in 1926 which was part of undivided Bengal then. He represented India in Test cricket between 1948 and 1952.

He had three siblings a sister (Moni) and two brothers (Samir and Ranabir). Ranabir, 19 years younger to Probir, also played Ranji Trophy for Bengal.

He made his First-Class debut in a Ranji Trophy encounter against Bihar at 17 when he was just out of school: he finished with 13 and two along with three dismissals in the match at Eden Gardens.

Sen played as many as 82 first-class matches until his last active season as a professional cricketer – 1957/58.

He made his first-class debut at the age of 17. He was known for his agility behind the stumps and widely acknowledged as the first great wicketkeeper India produced.

Before his debut, India fielded six different wicketkeepers in 12 Tests. Sen then kept wickets in 14 Tests for India. But interestingly, his greatest moment did not come in international cricket. 

Sen's first overseas tour was in 1947-48 when he was part of the Indian team that played Australia. He was initially taken as the reserve wicketkeeper to Jenni Irani.

Sen was the youngest member of the side.

He made his debut in that series but that incident took place in a tour game in which India faced South Australia.

Sen was short and stocky and was extremely nimble behind the stumps. He flew around to come up with the most brilliant of catches; his stumpings were executed in a flash, and he was equally competent against both pace and spin.

His liveliness was infectious, and his vigour behind the stumps urged his bowlers to lift their performances even after a day's toil.

Sen became the first Indian wicketkeeper to stump Sir Don Bradman in any form of cricket. 

Sen, a handy lower-order batter, couldn't make it big in international cricket. He scored only 165 runs at an average of 11.8 in 14 Tests. 

Sen also holds a rare first-class record. He, as an occasional bowler, bagged a hat-trick against Orissa in 1954-55. He was the regular wicketkeeper in that match and removed the pads to roll his arm over. This feat was repeated a decade later by Warwickshire's Alan Smith.

He amassed 2580 runs during his 15-year first-class career at an average of 23.24 with help of three hundreds. Sen bagged 108 dismissals in 70 FC games as a wicketkeeper – 97 catches and 35 stumpings.

He remained active in club cricket in Calcutta throughout the 1960s and suddenly passed away from a stroke after playing a match on January 27, 1970. He was not even 44.

The P Sen Memorial Trophy remains the most glamorous tournament of Kolkata Club Cricket, featuring names like Sachin Tendulkar (East Bengal, 1994) to Chaminda Vaas (Mohun Bagan, 2009).