Probir Sen

Sen played his first first-class cricket game representing Bengal in 1943, when he was only 17 years old and just out of school at La Martiniere Calcutta.

A stocky right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman, Sen first toured with the Indian team in 1947–48 in Australia where he was to act as the reserve keeper to Jenni Irani.

Sen played a notable part in the historic victory, taking five stumpings, all off Vinoo Mankad, including four in the first innings to help his side to a famous win.

Only two wicket-keepers have removed their pads and taken hat-tricks in first-class cricket: Probir Sen for Bengal against Orissa at Cuttack in 1954–55 and Alan Smith for Warwickshire against Essex at Clacton in 1965.

He was survived by his wife, Reena Sen (whom he married in 1948, and who is the niece of the late Pankaj Gupta), his daughter Madhusree Dhar, his grandchildren Bikram, Debaki, and Aditi Dhar, and his son Abhijit Sen. His brother Ranabir Sen, a stylish left-handed batsman, played first-class cricket for Bengal.