Bangladesh National Cricket Team’s first captain and former President of Dhaka Club Ltd Anwarul Kabir Shamim, popularly known as Shamim Kabir, passed away here on Monday. He was 75.
Shamim Kabir breathed his last at Eden Multicare Hospital in Dhanmondi in the morning, said Rabeed Imam, Senior Manager (Media) of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), reports UNB.
He left behind wife, two sons and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.
The first namaz-e-janaza of Shamim Kabir will be held at 11am on Thursday (August 1) at the BCB National Cricket Academy ground in Mirpur.
The decision about the burial will be taken after his sons return from abroad.
Shamim Kabir led the Bangladesh National Cricket Team to their first international cricket match against famous English team Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in a three-day unofficial test at the Dhaka Stadium (Bangabandhu National Stadium) in January, 1977.
After retiring from cricket, he served as the manager of Bangladesh Cricket Team in the ICC Trophy twice -- 1982 and 1986 -- and president of Dhaka Club Limited.
An opening batsman-cum-wicketkeeper, Shamim Kabir played 15 first class matches between 1961 and 1969 for different teams, including East Pakistan, East Zone and Dhaka University, in addition to playing in the Azad Boys Club in the Dhaka Cricket League.
He was a BCB councillor and member of various BCB Standing Committees. Shamim Kabir received the National Sports Award in 1999 for his service to Bangladesh cricket.
Meanwhile, BCB President Nazmul Hassan has expressed deep shock at the death of Shamim Kabir.
Paying his tributes to Shamim, the BCB boss said he earned the distinction of becoming the first cricketer to lead the Bangladesh National Team against an international opponent during the 1976-77 tour of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) to Bangladesh.
“He was a pioneer. Shamim Kabir captained Bangladesh when times were difficult for cricket and the game had very limited resources. It was due to the passion and dedication of people like him that cricket in Bangladesh is where it is today,” he further said.
He prayed for salvation of the departed soul and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA), Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), Bangladesh Hockey Federation, Dhaka Abahani Limited, Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) and Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association also condole Shamim Kabir’s death.
