Ex-Pakistani Cricketer Passes Away Due To COVID-19

In an unfortunate incident, Pakistan’s former first-class cricketer Zafar Sarfraz, elder brother of late Pakistan Test cricketer Akhtar Sarfraz, passed away after testing positive for covid-19. He was 50.

Zafar Sarfraz, who made his debut back in 1988, had been on a ventilator in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Peshawar for the past three days. He scored 616 runs from 15 first-class games for Peshawar. He also had 96 runs from six one-day games before retiring in 1994. After retirement, he coached both the senior and the U19 Peshawar teams in the mid-2000s.

Just like most of the countries in the world, Pakistan are also suffering because of the pandemic. As things stand, nearly 100 people have died from the coronavirus pandemic in the country. Peshawar has 744 of the nearly 5500 active cases in the country. Zafar Sarfraz was the first professional cricketer to die as a result of the coronavirus in Pakistan.

This has been the second bereavement in the Sarfraz family in less than a year. Around ten months ago, Akhtar Sarfraz passed away too after a battle with colon cancer.

Meanwhile, the pandemic has completely brought the entire world to a standstill. Cricket has not been spared either. Major events all across the world is currently suspended for precautionary reasons as people have been asked to stay indoors in order to break the chain of virus transmission.

Last month, the BCCI suspended the IPL till April 15 in the wake of the outbreak. The IPL was scheduled to start on March 29. With the way things are unfolding at the moment, it would not be surprising at all if the IPL does not start any time soon.

Also Read: ‘That Just Absolutely Killed Me’: Jos Buttler Recalls When AB de Villiers’ Comment Left Him Disappointed

Also Read: Carlos Brathwaite Confident Of Being A Part Of IPL In Some Capacity Despite Going Unsold in the Auction

Also Read: Five Captains Who Have Been Brilliant Tacticians