KARACHI: Former international Abdul Nasir, who devoted his life for the sole cause of promotion of basketball, is no more. He died after fighting Covid-19 for three weeks at a local hospital on Wednesday and was laid to rest at Mewashah graveyard the same evening.

The deceased, who was 65, is survived by a widow and sons Bilal and Mohammad Ali to mourn his death besides a large number of pupils and friends.

Nasir had his early education at GBSS Kotwal Building and S.M. College and did his Masters in Physical Education from Karachi University.

Nasir came into limelight through a system — inter-school, inter-collegiate and inter-university — that used to prevail in the city in yesteryear.

He reached the top of the ladder by representing the country in competitions at Iran and other nations. He also accompanied Pakistan basketball team as official at the 1990 Beijing Asian Games and the last SAF Games held in India. He was also an A Grade referee and attended international referees course at Singapore.

He joined K-Electric on sports basis and served the institution in different capacities as an officer before taking the golden handshake at 58.

Arambagh basketball court remained his second home for five decades and carried forward the legacy of his predecessors Khanzada Ehsan Khan, Musarrat Ali, Nisar Sheikh, Yousuf Shah and others who were founders of famous Karachi Basketball Club (KBBC).

Nasir had also served as associate secretary of Pakistan Basketball Federation and the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA).

Nasir was a vocal person and never compromised on principles. He fought litigation cases against the corrupt system and for the Karachi and Sindh players.

He was an honest person and lived a simple life. May his soul rest in peace.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2021