Dhaka: World’s one of the top all-rounders and Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan tied the knot at a pompous ceremony at Ruposhi Bangla hotel on Wednesday evening.

Mostly family members and a few friends attended the extremely restricted small marriage ceremony. Only Tamim Iqbal of the Bangladesh cricket team attended the bridal party.

The bride -- Umme Ahmed Shishir arrived at the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel at about 7:00pm while the bride groom Shakib reached the hotel at about 8:45pm wearing a white Punjabi. The bride was wearing a crimson red Benarasi saree.

Finally Shakib tied the knot paying Tk 19 lakh cash of 20 lakh one Taka of the dowry (Mohorana) fixed in the marriage ceremony. The main wedding reception will be held sometimes in March.

The 25-year-old cricketer, the world's leading all-rounder, tied the knot with an American of Bangladeshi origin in a private family ceremony organised on the once-in-a-lifetime date, said one of his friend.

"They want to make the occasion memorable by marrying on 12/12/12. But only a few people are invited in the ceremony," the friend said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A spokesman for the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in Dhaka said the couple held a small family party at the hotel. "It's a wedding party," he told newsmen.

Shakib introduced his future wife, 23-year-old Umme Ahmed Shishir, to fellow cricketers on Monday during the Bangladesh-West Indies Twenty20 cricket match in the capital Dhaka.

According to reports, the left-arm spinner met Shishir, a Minnesota University graduate, in London in 2010 when he was playing for English county side Worcestershire.

Social media was flooded with photos of the couple. Comments from some heartbroken girls questioned the cricketer's choice in marrying an allegedly hard-partying expatriate.

Shakib, from the small western town of Magura, has been the mainstay of the Bangladesh team since he made his international debut in 2006. He is the country's highest-earning player and its only Indian Premier League player.

In the last three years, he led the International Cricket Council's all-rounders' rankings in Test and one-dayers.

Bangladesh's top fashion and advertising model Monalisa, who uses one name, is also marrying her American boyfriend in Dhaka. The couple will host a party at a posh club Wednesday night.

"12/12/12 is a memorable day. This magic day won't come again," Monalisa told reporters.

Ends/AMA/13/12/12