News Desk: Samiur Rahman Sami, a former Bangladesh national team cricketer, is no more. He breathed his last on Tuesday morning in Dhaka. Sami was part of the Bangladesh cricket team’s first international match in the Asia Cup 1986 against Pakistan.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board expressed deep sadness at the passing of Sami, who also served as a BCB umpire and match referee after his playing days.

Sami was an accomplished right-arm seamer noted for his ability to swing the ball. He was a member of Bangladesh’s first ODI team, which played Pakistan in an Asia Cup fixture in 1986 in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, and would appear in one more ODI for Bangladesh. He represented the country in the ICC Trophy tournaments in 1982 and 1986.

In the Dhaka League, Sami was a prominent name and played for Abahani Krira Chakra, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Bangladesh Biman, Kalabagan Krira Chakra, Azad Boys Club, and Brothers Union. He represented Barisal District in the National Cricket Championship.

After retiring as a player, Sami went on to officiate 136 first-class, list A, and list A T20 matches as a BCB match referee. He also stood as an umpire in 17 first-class and 12 List A games.

Former Bangladesh captain and current chief selector, Minhazul Abedin, who also played with Sami in the first-ever ODI of Bangladesh, told us about his memories with Sami.

“It is a big loss for our cricket, we have spent a lot of good times together. I have taken part in three tours with him, in 1984, 1986, and 1988. I have lots of memories with him, he was a nice person and a very skilled cricketer. As a senior player, he always guided me, I pray to Allah that he may find him in heaven in the afterlife,” he told .

“Sami Bhai had a profound knowledge of the game. That’s why he became a good official as well. Even after playing life, we had good connections as he was the umpire and then the match referee. We used to go to his room to have a chat when he was the match referee,” the chief selector told.

Sami has been suffering from illness for a long time. His Namaz-e-Janaza was held at the Dhanmondi Eidgah mosque after the Zuhr prayer, then he was laid to rest at the army graveyard in the capital.

SK