The 75-year-old from Mymen-singh has been suffering from bladder cancer since 1997 and is now critically ill in a local hospital.

"My father has spent his entire savings on his treatment and we are now helpless," said Donald Debashish, the eldest son of Debinash, yesterday.

"He needs constant treatment not only for the cancer but also other problems. It is very expensive and we have already spent Tk 8-10 lakh so far. We cannot take him abroad for lack of funds.

"As a famous footballer of the past, we hope the government or the football federation will think about giving financial assistance," he appealed.

Debinash, who was lying unconscious in a post-operative bed, played for Mohammedan Sporting Club mostly in a career spanning from 1956-69. He also played for Victoria Sporting Club and Wanderers Club for a season each. The defender was also the only Bangladeshi (the then East Pakistan) footballer to represent the Pakistani football team in the pre-Olympics in Iran in 1963.

"He had severe hepatitis in 1993 and his lever and kidney have also been damaged. It would have been better if we could take him to Mumbai's cancer hospital for better treatment," Debashish added.

Debinash, who worked the Housing and Settlement Directorate, has a wife and two sons.