Legendary fast bowler M.N. Samsudeen passes away at 88

M.N. Samsudeen

• First Ceylonese to take all ten wickets in an innings against a visiting team

Wesley College and Sri Lanka has lost a legendary fast bowler with the passing away of Mohammed Nakeem Samsudeen popularly known as M.N. Samsudeen at the age of 88 after a short illness yesterday.

Samsudeen was renowned for becoming the first Ceylonese (now Sri Lankan) to take all ten wickets in an innings against a visiting team and for playing in two different teams on the same day.

Samsudeen’s unique feat took place in September 1960 against the touring Pakistan Eaglets team at the SSC grounds. Playing for Combined Services, he dismissed the Eaglets for 40 on a pitch affected by rain. Bowling at left-arm medium-pace his final analysis was 14.2-3-26-10 – all in the space of 85 minutes before lunch. All ten dismissals were through catches. The Eaglets team comprised several Pakistan national cricketers like Ijaz Butt, Shafqat Rana, Saeed Ahmed, Shuja-uddin and Munir Malik.

Combined Services were dismissed for 98 with Samsudeen contributing a useful 20 with the bat. In their second innings the Eaglets scored 91-1 when rain put an end to play. The solitary wicket was taken by Samsudeen who ended with figures of 12-7-15-1.

On this performance Samsudeen was picked to play for Ceylon Cricket Association (CCA) against Pakistan Eaglets in the 3-day game at the P Sara Oval.

The other unique feat of Samsudeen was in February 1955 when his fine bowling (3/26) saw Royal beaten by lunch on the second day. He then rushed to represent Colts half an hour later against Tamil Union in a P Sara Trophy match and opening the bowling took 2/26. He also held onto four catches. Such were his exploits as a richly talented cricketer. 

Samsudeen was a legend in his own youth. His cricketing talent was so precocious that he played for the school 1st XI team at the age of 14 during the captaincy of Ansar Fuard. His photo also appears in the 1953 cricket season captained by Bryan Claessen. A most remarkable feat for an exceptionally talented fast bowler. He continued to play school cricket until 1956 when the school was captained by Lou Adhihetty and Wesley had a tremendously successful season.

Samsudeen was rather short in stature for a fast bowler and after taking a wicket there were no exuberant celebrations. He simply picked up the ball and calmly walked back to his mark to bowl again. The hallmark of Samsudeen’s bowling was that he could swing the ball prodigiously and hit the top of off bail constantly and come up with match-winning performances. Whenever he took a bag full of wickets at Campbell Park, Samsudeen was carried shoulder high from the pitch to the pavilion by Wesleyites.

His skill was his uncanny accuracy. His strength and stamina were as exceptional as his speed. Samsudeen was a captain’s dream because of his sheer consistency in length and line. Despite his casual non-caring demeanour he had tremendous courage and determination to do well. There was no need for sledging, his sheer natural ability did the talking. He was Wesley’s sharpest spearhead.

Samsudeen played for the All Ceylon cricket team while at school and also for Combined School XI. For many years he was a match winning fast bowler for Colts and Moors Sports Club. His brother, M.N. Mihlar, played cricket for Wesley in 1959/60 as a successful fast bowler following in the steps of his illustrious brother.

Despite his many notable achievements very little was written about Samsudeen mostly because he maintained a low profile and never looked for fame. Many cricket lovers will remember Samsudeen as one of the finest left-arm fast bowlers of the 1950’s and will recall with much affection his many achievements and his friendly smile. His funeral took place at the Maligawatta Muslim burial ground yesterday. – [ST]