A rising star on the local cricket circuit, Zulfiqar Bhatti died on the pitch. His only wish was to play for the national team. Little did he know his passion would cost him his life.
On Tuesday, two local teams, Super Star Cricket Club and Sindh Young Cricket Club, engaged in a friendly contest at the Jinnah Municipal Stadium in Sukkur. In the second innings of the game, 22-year-old Bhatti, who played for the Super Star Cricket Club, went to bat at his usual one-down position.
Tears welled up in the eyes of the eyewitnesses who related his last innings to The Express Tribune. It was the second ball he faced which struck Bhatti in the chest, causing him to collapse onto the ground. He was rushed to the hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
Thus, the passionate cricketer bowed out of this world, doing what he loved most – playing cricket. His funeral prayers were offered in the premises of Dargah Bedil Bekus and he was laid to rest in his native graveyard.
A large number of cricket enthusiasts and people from all walks of life attended his funeral. The district administration has announced to suspend sports activities throughout Sukkur district for three days as a token of mourning.
Zulfiqar’s father, Manzoor Bhatti, told reporters his youngest of four sons had been playing cricket since his early childhood and was an excellent sportsman. His peers agreed.
