Former Bangladesh umpire Nadir Shah passes away at 57 after battle with illness

Former international umpire Nadir Shah passed away in Dhaka on Friday, after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 57. Nadir stood in 40 ODIs and six T20Is, after a long domestic career playing for some of Bangladesh's top clubs.

After a recent bout of illness, Nadir was taken to a hospital last month. He was recovering from respiratory complications, but two days ago, he had to be given life support after his condition deteriorated.

Nadir was the youngest of seven brothers, one of whom, Jahangir Shah played five ODIs for Bangladesh. Four other brothers also played league cricket. Nadir moved into umpiring in the mid-1990s, before making his international debut as umpire in 2006.

Nadir was known for his obsession with cricket from his youth, right up to the current Bangladesh-New Zealand series when he was in hospital. He was a friendly character who could strike up a conversation with anyone, provided the topic was cricket. During the 1997 ICC Trophy, Nadir helped out the Bangladesh team with scouting other teams in Malaysia.

Cricketers knew him as someone who was fair as an umpire, but one who would also give suggestions to batters and bowlers if they were not showing good technique.

Bangladesh's sports minister Md. Zahid Ahsan Russel led the tribute. "Nadir Shah was a renowned face on the cricket field," he said. "His death is an irreparable loss for the country's sports arena. The nation will forever remember his unique contribution to the advancement of cricket in the country."

BCB's chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said that Bangladesh cricket will miss Nadir. "Nadir Shah was a most affable person who was loved and respected by all in the cricket fraternity. He will be missed. He lived for cricket and had always executed his responsibility as an umpire with fairness. We pray for the salvation of his soul," he said.