Rich tribute paid to Shamim Kabir
The first Bangladesh cricket captain laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard
Sports Reporter, Dhaka
Bangladesh first national cricket team captain (late) Shamim Kabirs first Namaz-e- Janaza was held at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) ground of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. The cricket loving people of the countrys sports arena gathered at the NCA ground on the eve of the Namaz-e-Janaza to show their last respect and love to late Anwarul Kabir Shamim, known well as Shamim Kabir.
BCB took an initiative to pay their homage to the first captain in Mirpur where his coffin was brought earlier of the Janaza from Apollo Hospital and kept under a makeshift dais. His coffin was draped with the BCBs logo inserted a piece of white cloth.
His successors and playing time mates ASM Roquibul Hassan, Shafiqul Haq Heera along with Dipu Rai Choudhury were present with BCBs first general secretary Raisuddin Ahmed, Tanveer Mazhar Tanna and Syed Ashraful Huq. Former captains Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, Minhajul Abedin Nannu, Akram Khan and Naimur Rahman Durjoy were also present.
Before Namaz-e-janaza, Roqibul Hasan, Shafiqul Haq along with ex-national colour Barrister Shakil Kashem QC and Raisuddin Ahmed commemorated the late Shamim Kabir. Even Kabirs elder son exchanged a few words in somber mode.
BCB directors Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Boby, Jalal Younus, Ismail Haider Mallick, CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury along with former cricketers Hasibul Hossain Shanto, Golam Faruk Chowhdury Suru, senior journalist-turned-coach Jalal Ahmed Chowdhury, Daily Sangbad acting editor Khondokar Moniruzzaman also attended. Bangladesh Test and T20 captain Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin among the current players were present. To see the delay of Namaz-e-Janaza, Shakib left the ground to attend a scheduled awareness programme of dengue at Bidya Niketon School and College in Banani. A host of relatives, sports organisers, coaches, umpires, scorers along with officials of BCB, BOA, different clubs and sports organisation also attended.
Roqibul Hassan in his reaction said, I opened with Shamim Kabir for Azad Boys Club while I was a student of class VIII. Then I got a chance to open with Shamim Kabir again in Lahore against Lahore while I was a student of Class X. Finally I opened with him in his first and last international match against MCC in 1976-77.
He taught us how to socialise and how to stylise a man. He did not allow indiscipline in on and off the field, Hassan added.
He (Shamim Kabir) was my first captain when I used to play in inter-department and inter-university cricket tournament. Then we played led by him against MCC, Heera told in commemorating Shamim Kabirs cricketing life.
Raisuddin Ahmed said, Being same aged players, the bulk of the players expressed their desire to be captain against MCC XI at that time. Considering his current form and performance along with his seniority, we- selection panel- therefore made him captain.
Shakil Kashem dubbed him as the father of the Bangladesh Cricket, stating that he was a square-toed and complete straightforward man. In a word, he was a man of words. He never comprised with indiscipline, Kashem said. After janaza, it was opened for all to pay their respect for the last time.
BCB directors-Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Boby, Jalal Younus, IH Mallick, Akram Khan, Durjoy placed wreaths at Shamims coffin on behalf of BCB and its president Nazmul Hassan Papon. Thereafter, former national captains, Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA), Bangladesh Umpires Association and Bangladesh Scorers Association, Daily Sangbad Family and Bangladesh Sports Journalist Association followed the suit to show their respect with wreaths.
The first national captain breathed his last at the Eden Medicare Hospital in Dhanmondi due to old age complications along with related to other problem last Monday. His second Namaz-e-Janaza was held after Zohr prayer at Gulshan Azad Mosque before going to Ghorashal, Narsingdi, where his last Janaza was held before laying him to rest at his ancestral graveyard yesterday.
