Baseer Shamsi

During his college days in Jalandhar he excelled in the game of cricket as a medium fast left arm bowler, who moved the ball both ways in the air and off the seam, and a right-handed batsman.

Shamsi saw active service fighting against the Japanese army throughout the Burma campaign and took part in the major battles of Imphal, Kohima and Irrawaddy.

In early 1957 he was Brigade Major (BM) of 114 Brigade Lahore when he was chosen by the army to attend the Advanced Tactical Course at the prestigious US Army School of Infantry, Fort Benning, Georgia.

On return from the year long course, he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel and given command of 18th Battalion of the Baloch Regiment.

Without any armour support his infantry Battalion managed to destroy 9 Indian tanks, 6 of which he was able to retrieve and bring back to Pakistan.

Shamsi was a left-arm opening bowler who played for the Combined Services in Pakistan.

In the only first-class match of the tour he took 5 for 55 and 6 for 42 in the victory over the Ceylon Cricket Association in Colombo.