Nazim Shirazi
Encyclopedia
Nazim Shirazi was a Bangladeshi cricketer. An elegant opening batsman, he was considered the best cricketing talent of the country in the early 1980s and was regarded as one of the most brilliant fielders Bangladesh ever had at any position. A combination of excellent eyesight and reflexes made him an attractive stroke player.
. After the Bangladesh top order collapsed against the spin of Indian test bowler Rakesh Shukla
, Nazim, along with his cousin Jahangir Shah
Badshah repaired the damage. Nazim scored 56, and Badshah made 40, out of a team total of 182.
in England
during the summer of 1982. There, he played 5 matches and scored 107 runs. His highest, 52, came in the 3rd-place play-off against PNG. He shared a 170-run 1st wicket partnership with Yousuf Babu
(115).
side, led by Indian test player Dilip Doshi
. It was a miserable experience for the local side as the magic of Doshi's
spin was too much for them. The West Bengal team won the match by an innings and 42 runs with Doshi
taking 12 wickets. Nazim was one of the few Bangladeshi players who could handle Doshi
properly. His 29 in the 2nd innings was the highest individual score for the local side.
Sadly, this was his last season in international cricket, as very soon, he along with his family moved to Los Angeles
, USA.
for more than decade.
Badshah was a regular for national side from 1978–1990. Badshah's brothers, Munna Shah and Nadir Shah were highly successful in domestic cricket. They also enjoyed brief stints with the national side. Nadir Shah is now an internationally respected cricket umpire.
A memorable innings
Barely out of his teens, Nazim was selected in Jan 1982, to play for the Central Zone side against the touring Hyderabad Blues side consisting of Indian test players including B. S. Chandrasekhar, Chetan Chauhan, Anshuman Gaekwad, Roger Binny, Rakesh Shukla and other test players. Opening the innings, he top scored for the side with 32. But even greater effort came in the three day match at DhakaDhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
. After the Bangladesh top order collapsed against the spin of Indian test bowler Rakesh Shukla
Rakesh Shukla
Rakesh Chandra Shukla is a former Indian cricketer who played in one Test in 1982.He was leg-break-googly-bowler and a decent hard-hitting batsman also. Those days all-rounders were not given the recognition unlike later years. With spin quartet of Bishan Singh Bedi, B. S. Chandrasekhar, S...
, Nazim, along with his cousin Jahangir Shah
Jahangir Shah
Jahangir Shah Badsha is a former Bangladeshi cricketer who played in 5 ODIs from 1986 to 1990. He is sometimes known on scoresheets by his nickname Badshah....
Badshah repaired the damage. Nazim scored 56, and Badshah made 40, out of a team total of 182.
In ICC Trophy
He was an automatic selection for the ICC Trophy1982 ICC Trophy
The 1982 ICC Trophy was a limited-overs cricket tournament held in England between 16 June and 10 July 1982. It was the second ICC Trophy tournament to be staged, with matches between the 16 participating teams played over 60 overs a side and with white clothing and red balls...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
during the summer of 1982. There, he played 5 matches and scored 107 runs. His highest, 52, came in the 3rd-place play-off against PNG. He shared a 170-run 1st wicket partnership with Yousuf Babu
Yousuf Rahman
Yousuf Rahman was a Bangladeshi cricketer, who played regularly for the national side from 1976-77 until his retirement in 1983-84. He top scored with 78 against the MCC at Dhaka in Jan 1977. He also holds the distinction of being the first Bangladeshi to score an international hundred, with 115...
(115).
The final season
During March, 1983, he played against the touring West BengalWest Bengal cricket team in Bangladesh in 1982-83
In March 1983, the West Bengal side from India came to Dhaka, for a short tour. The side was led by Dilip Doshi. The visitors convincingly won both their matches.-The 3 day Match :...
side, led by Indian test player Dilip Doshi
Dilip Doshi
Dilip Rasiklal Doshi is a former Indian cricketer who played in 33 Tests and 15 ODIs from 1979 to 1983....
. It was a miserable experience for the local side as the magic of Doshi's
Dilip Doshi
Dilip Rasiklal Doshi is a former Indian cricketer who played in 33 Tests and 15 ODIs from 1979 to 1983....
spin was too much for them. The West Bengal team won the match by an innings and 42 runs with Doshi
Dilip Doshi
Dilip Rasiklal Doshi is a former Indian cricketer who played in 33 Tests and 15 ODIs from 1979 to 1983....
taking 12 wickets. Nazim was one of the few Bangladeshi players who could handle Doshi
Dilip Doshi
Dilip Rasiklal Doshi is a former Indian cricketer who played in 33 Tests and 15 ODIs from 1979 to 1983....
properly. His 29 in the 2nd innings was the highest individual score for the local side.
Sadly, this was his last season in international cricket, as very soon, he along with his family moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, USA.
Cricket in California
Cricket isn't very popular in USA. Cricket is mostly played by the immigrants from the Indian Sub-continent & the caribbeans. Thanks mainly to Shirazi, his local side dominated the cricketing scenario of Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
for more than decade.
Family connection
He came from a big cricketing background. His cousin Jahangir ShahJahangir Shah
Jahangir Shah Badsha is a former Bangladeshi cricketer who played in 5 ODIs from 1986 to 1990. He is sometimes known on scoresheets by his nickname Badshah....
Badshah was a regular for national side from 1978–1990. Badshah's brothers, Munna Shah and Nadir Shah were highly successful in domestic cricket. They also enjoyed brief stints with the national side. Nadir Shah is now an internationally respected cricket umpire.