Warm tributes to a gentleman of the game

AAMIR BASHIR... scored 10,600 runs in the Saddleworth League.

“A FINE man and a gentleman” — words associated with Saddleworth and District Cricket League professional Aamir Bashir, who passed away, aged 38.

The Pakistani all-rounder, who spent a decade at Hollinwood after a two-year stint at Uppermill, died at his home in Multan after a long illness.

Apart from scoring a deluge of runs in the S&DCL — he amassed 10,600 at an average of 60.9 — Aamir will also be remembered for the way he conducted himself off and on the field.

A consummate pro, he was a man without ego, who was happy to be ‘one of the lads’. One of the very few players who was held in high esteem by team-mates and rivals alike, he was respected as a player and an individual.

David Winterbottom, president of Hollinwood CC, said: “It was a privilege to work alongside him at Hollinwood.

“He did look at me as a father figure and he was a credit to Hollinwood and the whole cricketing fraternity.

“I never heard anybody say a bad word against him in my dealings with him over 10 years.

“He also helped to forge links with the Asian community in and around Hollinwood.

“He was a fine man and gentleman.”

Aamir, who played for Pakistan ‘A’, arrived in this country in 1999 to take up the pro’s role at Uppermill.

In his second season at Leafields, he helped the team to second place in the league behind Greenfield and to the Tanner Cup final, at which they were beaten by Moorside.

He moved to Hollinwood in 2001, replacing Nolan McKenzie, and so started one of the most successful player/club alliances of the last decade.

Averaging more than 50 with the bat in eight out of nine seasons, he was the man every bowler wanted on their CV.

Aamir topped the pros batting averages on three occasions in 2001, 2003 and 2005 when he averaged a staggering 87.3.

He also did his bit with with ball, taking 461 wickets in the league with a mixture of medium pace and spin.

The pinnacle of his time at Hollinwood was lifting the league title in 2006. He also guided the team to Twenty20 competition glory in 2007.

Aamir was struck down with illness in the 2008 season. He played 10 matches before returning to Pakistan for treatment and missed the entire 2009 campaign.

Diagnosed with leukaemia, he had a bone marrow transplant just before last Christmas.

The procedure was a success and he was back playing for Hollinwood at the beginning of last summer. However, his return lasted eight games as a secondary cancer took hold and he returned to Pakistan.

Quaiser Riaz, who played alongside Aamir for five years at Hollinwood, said: “He was more than a friend, he was like a brother to me.

“He was a brilliant man and I will never forget him.”

And general secretary Trevor Harrison paid tribute to Aamir on behalf of the S&DCL.

He said: “We are very sad to hear of his death. He was a very popular guy.

“A good player, he was very personable and that’s what most people will remember about him. Our condolences go to his family.”




Aamir Bashir’s Saddleworth League record



Batting



Inn 229; not outs 55; highest score 163no;

runs 10,600; ave 60.9


Bowling



Overs 2,432; maidens 419; runs 7,749; wkts 461; ave 16.8