Former Pakistan Cricketer Riaz Sheikh Passes Away Due To Covid-19

Former Pakistan first-class cricketer Riaz Sheikh lost his battle to Covid-19, ex-cricketer Rashid Latif confirmed on Twitter. He was 51 when he breathed his last on Tuesday. Rashid Latif, in his tweet, asked everyone to pray for the departed soul.

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ ہمارے قریبی ساتھی کرکٹر ریاض شیخ خالق حقیقی سے جا ملے ۔ اللہ تعالی ان کے درجات بلند فرمائے اور آپ لوگوں سے درخواست ہے کہ انکی مغفرت کے لیئے دعا کریں آمین ۔ pic.twitter.com/xjsVFjX3zh

— Rashid Latif | ?? (@iRashidLatif68) June 2, 2020

Following the tweet from Rashid Latif, a number of stalwarts from Pakistan media, and former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed responded to it. His well-wishers paid condolences to his family and hoped for his peaceful departure.

اناللہ وانا الیہ راجعون،
اللہ پاک مر حوم کی مغفرت فرمائے، اہل خا نہ کو صبر عطا فرمائے آمین ?

— Sarfaraz Ahmed (@SarfarazA_54) June 2, 2020

اناللہ وانا الیہ راجعون، بہت افسوس ہوا ریاض بھائی کا سن کر ایک بہترین لیگ اسپینر اور اس سے بڑھ کر ایک خوش اخلاق قابل احترام انسان، PNSC سے میں بھی ان کے ساتھ کھیلا تھا دو سال اللہ پاک ان کی مغفرت فرمائے، آمین

— Faisal Iqbal???فیصل اقبال (@FaisalIqbalCric) June 2, 2020

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ.

— Dr. Nauman Niaz (@DrNaumanNiaz) June 2, 2020

A Look at Riaz Sheikh’s first-class career

Riaz Sheikh was a right-handed batsman and an utility leg-spinner. He played for Karachi and Pakistan National Shipping Corporation between 1987 to 2003 in domestic cricket. Although, he had a decent run in the domestic circuit, Sheikh was not consistent enough to earn a national team call-up.

Sheikh played 43 first-class matches, scoring 1803 runs at an average of 30.05. He also notched up three centuries and eight half-centuries in the format and picked up 116 wickets at an average over 30.05. In his List A career, Sheikh has recorded 30 wickets.

Earlier, as per a report in Cricket Pakistan, another Pakistan first-class cricketer Zafar Sarfaraz passed away in Peshawar, aged 50, after losing the battle against the virus.

Meanwhile, ex-Pakistan opener Taufeeq Umar also revealed that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and has been kept in self-isolation.