Pakistan cricket player dies amidst India vs Pakistan war escalation
Published - 07 May 2025, 01:24 PM | Updated - 07 May 2025, 11:35 PM
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The Pakistan cricket fraternity is mourning the sudden and heartbreaking loss of young fast bowler Aleem Khan, who tragically passed away on May 5 during a domestic match in Bannu. The 22-year-old cricketer collapsed mid-delivery while bowling in a PCB Challenge League fixture.
The incident unfolded shockingly, as Aleem Khan fell to the ground while in his run-up. Umpire Inamullah Khan, who was officiating the game, confirmed that urgent medical help was called immediately, and Aleem was rushed to a nearby hospital.
Aleem Khan collapses on the field, dies during PCB Challenge League match
Despite the quick medical assistance, doctors were unable to revive the fast bowler, and he was pronounced dead due to cardiac arrest.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed deep sorrow, with Director of Domestic Cricket Abdullah Khurram Niazi offering heartfelt condolences to Aleem’s grieving family.
Notably, Aleem was considered a rising prospect in regional cricket. However, he hadn't yet made it to the top-tier domestic level; the bowler had shown great promise with both ball and bat.
As per CricHeroes data, Aleem had recently taken seven wickets in T20 competitions and chipped in with useful lower-order runs to showcase his potential as a bowling all-rounder.
Meanwhile, in response to last month’s deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed, the Indian armed forces have carried out missile strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Gautam Gambhir urges full cricket boycott of Pakistan after Pahalgam terror attack
Before these strikes, Team India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, who earlier served as a BJP MP, had publicly said that India should stop playing cricket with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. There are even reports that the BCCI may boycott both Pakistan and Bangladesh.
As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Gautam Gambhir said at an event in Delhi, “My personal answer to this is absolutely no. Till all this [terrorism] doesn’t stop, there should not be anything between India and Pakistan."
"Ultimately, this is the government’s decision whether we play them or not. I have said this before also: no cricket match or Bollywood or any other interaction is more important than the lives of Indian soldiers and Indian citizens.”
Gambhir added, “Matches will keep happening, movies will be made, singers will continue to perform, but nothing comes close to losing a loved one in your family. This is not up to me; it's not in my jurisdiction."
"This is for the BCCI and, more importantly, the government to decide whether we should play them or not. Whatever decision they make, we should be absolutely fine with it and not politicize it.”
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PCB chief silent on cricket ties amidst accusations against India
However, the PCB has not yet reacted to these reports, even though their chief, Mohsin Naqvi, is also the Federal Minister for Interior of Pakistan.
However, last week, Naqvi said that India will have to “pay a heavy price” if they attack, and they are headed on a “path of destruction.”
The PCB chief also accused India of being behind the Jaffar Express attack in March, where 64 people were killed.
The tragic incident happened when militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army hijacked a passenger train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar.
But he didn’t make any comment on the future of the cricketing ties between India and Pakistan.
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