Cricket is a widely followed and loved sport around the world. In a country like ours, every other kid dreams of becoming an international cricketer and playing for the nation. But do you know about these players who have played for not one, but two nations at an international level.
1. Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi  (India & England)
I.A.K Pataudi, also known as ‘Nawab Pataudi Senior’ is the only cricketer to play for both India and England. He played for England in the 1932-33 ‘Ashes’ series and scored a hundred (102) in his debut match in Sydney. He played two more tests for England, both against Australia. Later, he was the captain of the Indian team in three test matches on the England tour of 1946-47. He is also the father of former Indian cricket captain M.A.K Pataudi and grandfather of Bollywood stars, Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan.
2. Abdul Hafeez Kardar (India & Pakistan)
A.H Kardar, widely regarded as the ‘Father figure of Pakistan’s Cricket’ was born in British India and made his debut for India in test matches against England in 1946. After the division of India, Kardar moved to Pakistan and was the first captain of the Pakistani test team which toured India in 1952-53. Kardar also became Minister of Food in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government and served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Switzerland.
3. Amir Elahi (India & Pakistan)
Amir Elahi was a leg break googly bowler who was born in Lahore in 1908. He played one test match for India in the year 1947 against Australia. He then moved to Pakistan where he went on to play five more test matches, when Pakistan received test status in 1952-53 . He has the distinction of being the first ever player for Pakistan (Cap No. 1).
4. Gul Mohammed (India & Pakistan)
Gul Mohammed was an attacking left handed batsman who made his test debut for India in the year 1946 against England. He was also a part of the Indian team that toured Australia in 1947-48 and Pakistan in 1952-52. However, he took Pakistani citizenship in 1955 and played one test match for Pakistan against Australia, where he hit the winning runs for his team.
5. Kepler Wessels (Australia & South Africa)
Kepler Wessels was a left handed opening batsman who made his debut for Australia against England at Brisbane in 1982 and scored a century (162) in the first innings. He went on to play 23 more matches for the country, announcing his retirement in 1985. Six years later, in 1991, when ICC removed the ban from South Africa to play test cricket after a gap of 22 years, Wessels was asked to join his home side. He soon took the captaincy of the South African team for three years and retired from cricket in 1994. He has coached the IPL team ‘Chennai Super Kings’ and is also a renowned cricket commentator.
6. Geraint Jones (England & Papua New Guinea)Â
Geraint Jones was born in Kundiawa, Papua New Guinea. When he was a kid, his parents, who were of Welsh origin, moved to Australia. Jones played cricket at the junior level in Australia, but moved to England later and made his test debut as a wicket-keeper batsman for England against the West Indies in 2004. He was also a part of the English team who won the Ashes in 2005. After an abysmal performance in the 2006-07 Ashes, Jones was removed from the English side. He then represented PNG at the ICC World T20 qualifiers and made his ODI debut for the side against Hong-Kong in 2014. He is also the world-record holder for most Test innings played without having scored a duck (46 innings).
7. Ed Joyce (England & Ireland)
Ed Joyce is a left handed batsman and right hand medium pace bowler who played for Ireland in the ICC trophy but qualified to play for England due to his residence there. He made his ODI debut against Australia in the 2006-07 triangular series. After being dropped from the English side in 2010, Joyce started playing for Ireland and has played 46 ODIs and 16 T20Is for them till date.
8. Luke Ronchi (Australia & New Zealand)
Luke Ronchi is a Wicket keeper batsman, who was born in New Zealand but immigrated to Australia with his parents at an early age. He made his T20I and ODI debuts against the West Indies in June 2008 for Australia as regular wicket keeper Brad Haddin got injured. After Haddin’s return to the Australian team, Ronchi was overlooked for some time so he decided to move back to New Zealand. In 2013, he was selected in the kiwi team for their tour of England and has since been a regular member of the team.
9. Eoin Morgan (Ireland & England)
Eoin Morgan is a left handed batsman who made his ODI debut for Ireland against Scotland in August 2006, scoring 99 runs and becoming the first ever batsman to get dismissed at 99 on debut. He was also included in the Irish team for the 2007 Cricket World Cup and played a total of 23 games for the nation. Morgan shifted to England, to fulfil his desire of playing for the English side. Morgan made his English debut in 2009 against the West Indies and has since been a regular member of the side. Currently, he is also the captain of the English ODI and T20I teams.
10. Dirk Nannes (Australia & The Netherlands)
Dirk Nannes is a left arm fast bowler who holds dual citizenship of Australia and The Netherlands. He made his T20I debut for The Netherlands against England in June 2009. Just two months later, he played the only ODI game of his carrer for Australia against Scotland. He has played in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils and Chennai Super Kings and is currently employed as a cricket commentator.
Source: Wikipedia