Ex-Proteas all-rounder Dik Abed passes away

Johannesburg [South Africa], Jan 20 (ANI): Former South Africa all-rounder Sulaiman 'Dik' Abed passed away recently in The Netherlands. He was 73.

Paying tribute to Abed, Cricket South Africa (CSA) said that the former was an outstanding all-rounder who had never got the opportunity to play on the international stage.

"On behalf of the CSA Family I extend our deepest condolences to his family, his friends and his many cricketing colleagues. He was an outstanding all-rounder who, like many before and after him, was denied the opportunity to play on the international stage that his talents merited," ESPNcricinfo quoted CSA, as saying.

Known as a capable batsman and a fast bowler with a fine leg cutter, Dik had enjoyed an outstanding career at home, playing for Western Province in the late 60s.

Subsequently, he took up a contract with Enfield in the Lancashire Leagues in England and went on to amass more than 5,000 runs beside also bagging more than 800 wickets over a 10-year period from 1967 to 1976.

Abed later settled in Holland and led The Netherlands to the ICC Trophy Competition in England in 1982. (ANI)