LAHORE: Former first-class cricketer Aamir Bashir died of cancer in the early hours on Monday in his hometown of Multan.

Aamir, 38, was a prolific middle-order batsman who played 217 first-class matches scoring 9006 runs at an average of 30.84, hitting 16 centuries and 46 fifties. He also played 140 domestic one-day matches and scored 4141 runs with four centuries and 32 fifties.

Aamir, who leaves behind a widow and a six-year-old, was battling stomach cancer for the past three years. Pakistan limited-overs skipper Shahid Afridi was a close friend of Aamir as were Younis Khan, Rashid Latif and Basit Ali, who all worked hard to ensure he received proper medical treatment.

Aamir, who captained Pakistan Customs and also played first-class cricket for United Bank and Multan, was selected in Pakistan squad for the one-off One-day International against India at Kolkata in November 2004.

Meanwhile, Ijaz Butt, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, expressed his deep sense of grief on the sad demise of Aamir.— Sports Reporter