Rashid Drowned in Caribbean Tragedy

By Jeremy Horne
April 2 2002

Just ten days after the tragic death of Surrey and England’s Ben Hollioake, Umer Rashid of Sussex and formerly of Middlesex has drowned in Grenada after trying to save his brother, Burhan, who was also dragged under the water and killed.

Umer Rashid had been touring with Sussex and was given a day off after the county had just beaten Northamptonshire to reach the final of a pre-season triangular tournament, also involving Yorkshire. This tournament has since been scrapped.

The Sussex squad will fly home immediately and will discuss ideas for a memorial with the Rashid family. The whole team is said to be in a state of shock and this statement was released: ‘Umer was a great favourite with both staff and supporters alike and had been with Sussex since 1999. He will be sadly missed as a friend and a colleague.’ The Sussex captain Chris Adams had only recently described Rashid as ‘probably the most naturally gifted player on the staff’. The Sussex coach Peter Moores has requested that the press allow the Rashid family to grieve in private.

Although Rashid had never played at international level, he represented England under 19’s in 1995 when they played South Africa. He also played for the British Universities in the Benson and Hedges cup. He left Middlesex at the end of the 1998 season in order to try and gain regular first team cricket, a feat achieved once he joined Sussex. Since moving to Sussex he began to show some of his potential as a genuine All-rounder and at only 26 no one will ever know where this potential could have led to.

As with Ben Hollioake’s death if anyone has any messages for Sussex CCC in light of this tragic event, do not hesitate to post on the message board. All messages will be duly passed on to the club.