KARACHI: Former first-class cricketer and veteran coach Shabbir Hussain died here on Friday after a sudden cardiac arrest. He was around 80 years old.

Shabbir leaves behind two sons and a daughter besides a widow.

Besides, representing Pakistan Eaglets team, Shabbir played five first-class games while representing Karachi and PWD and scored 60 runs and took three wickets.

Pakistan’s batting legend Hanif Mohammad lauded Shabbir’s cricketing credentials.

“Shabbir bhai was a good spinner, it was difficult to handle him on matting pitch,” Hanif said. “He was also a remarkably fit man, who dedicated his life to coach youngsters.”

Saying said that he had played alongside Shabbir Hus­­s­ain in PWD team, Hanif underlined that his (Shabbir’s) career ended prematurely due to a chucking controversy.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan Test paceman Jalaluddin, with whom Shabbir wor­ked at the Customs Coac­hing Academy, also acknowledged Shabbir’s services to cricket.

On several occasions, Shabbir also served as the coach and trainer with Pakistan team during Imran Khan’s era.

A lanky off-spinner, Shabbir had been a popular figure in Karachi cricket for the past four decades as he dedicated his life for coaching youngsters at Karachi Gymkhana during latter stages of his life.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and management of the National Stadium expressed their condolences on the demise of Shabbir.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2014