The Bangladesh cricket community was shocked by the demise of two former national cricketers yesterday. In the morning, news broke about Samiur Rahman Sami's before Mosharraf Hossain Rubel's passing in the afternoon.

Both breathed their last after long battles with illnesses.

Left-arm seamer Sami, who had been ill for the past year and a half after being diagnosed with a brain tumour, was recently admitted to a city hospital after his condition deteriorated. He breathed his last at the age of 66.

On the other hand, left-arm spinner Rubel had been battling cancer after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in March 2019. He passed away at a city hospital at the age of 40.

Sami, who was noted for his ability to swing the ball, was a member of Bangladesh's first ODI team that played Pakistan in an Asia Cup fixture in 1986 in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. He would appear in one more ODI for Bangladesh. He also represented the country in the ICC Trophy tournaments in 1982 and 1986.

Samiur Rahman was also a prominent name in the Dhaka League. His older brother Yousuf Rahman is also a former Bangladesh cricketer. Besides cricket, both brothers played top-tier basketball in Bangladesh.

After retiring as a player, Sami went on to officiate in 136 first class, list A and list A T20 matches as a BCB match referee. He also stood as an umpire in 17 first class and 12 list A games.

Rubel, a left-arm spinner and handy late-order batsman, represented Bangladesh in five ODIs between 2008-2016. He was considered as utility cricketer in the domestic circuit, amassing over 550 wickets across the formats in a career spanning two decades.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) expressed deep bereavement at the passing of two former national cricketers.