At his peak, Sabbir was regarded as one of the country's finest midfielders. He possessed exceptional ball-handling skills and frequently terrorized opposition defences with his jinking runs and mazy dribbles. The Mohammedan fans adored him, while their greatest rivals Abahani feared and respected him in equal measure. Although his career was interrupted by injury, he left a lasting impression on the domestic game. Local observers often compared Sabbir to Diego Maradona, not only because of his gifted playmaking but also because of his physical resemblance to the great Argentinian; they were both short and stocky in build.