David Basheer attended Prince Alfred College for eight years, from 1975 to 1982, following in the footsteps of a number of his cousins and other family members. David played cricket and football throughout his time at PAC and, in his final year, was Captain of the 2nd XVIII.
David's professional interest began while he was at school. As a Year 11 student, David convinced then Deputy Headmaster, Milton Haseloff, to allow him to establish a radio station at PAC. Whilst it attracted only a modest audience, it started the passion for sports broadcasting, which David has maintained until the present day.
David's media career began in 1986 at Adelaide radio station 5AA as a Talkback Producer, Announcer and Sports Reporter. In 1988, David won a national cadetship with the ABC as a Sport’s Broadcaster and within a year was commentating on the Sheffield Shield final, Test Cricket, AFL, National Soccer League and host of the National Inter Dominion Harness Racing Championship.
David moved to Network Ten in Adelaide for two years, but the lure of commentating and presenting International Sport, took him in 1995 to SBS, starting a long association in covering a host of major international events. As a presenter and commentator, David's media career spans over 30 years and includes six FIFA World Cups, the UEFA Champions League, FA Cup Football, the Asian Cup, five Olympic Games, five World Athletics Championships, the Tour de France and the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, as well as a number of world road and track cycling Championships.
In between two stints with SBS, David worked as a Senior Presenter and Commentator with Asian broadcaster ESPN Star Sports. Working for various international broadcasters, David has called Olympic Football finals at the last five Olympics, Commonwealth Games Athletics and in Tennis - the French Open, Japan Open, China Open and various Tournaments including the Australian Open for 10 years, for overseas broadcasters. David has recently been the main presenter on racing.com’s Spring Carnival coverage, in Melbourne.
In addition, David was for many years Chairman of the Bone Growth Melbourne Tennis Charity, in which he was instrumental in helping raise a large amount of money for children's bone growth research.
David has pursued his career and his interests with the passion, professionalism and determination that we associate with Princes Men, to take him to the very top of his profession. David is another proud Princes Man and it is most fitting and appropriate that we recognise him with the highest distinction for our Old Collegians.