Pakistan has history of sportsmen's deaths

KARACHI - The sad demise of veteran cricketer Javed Sheikh here on Tuesday night at Asghar Ali Shah stadium was not the first such tragic incident in the brief history of Pakistan sports which has witnessed some reputed sportsmen breathing their last on the field. Javed Sheikh, a former treasurer and an active club cricket breathe his last while playing in a veteran T20 cricket for Ideal Veterans team.Among the prominent and international sportspersons who passed away on the field were squash star Torsam Khan, elder brother of former world champion Jahangir Khan and Pakistan's former hockey skipper Munawarruz Zaman. Torsam Khan passed away on squash court of heart attack while playing in an international championship in Australia many years ago. Pakistan's full back Munawar uz Zaman also suffered heart failure and died while playing at Pakistan Customs Ground. A budding and young boxer Imam Bux of Pakistan Navy passed away also of heart failure at the side of the boxing ring in 1978 during the national championship.About two months back a doctor while playing cricket at Karachi Gymkhana also died of heart failure on the pitch. In 1953 wicket keeper Rashid of Sindh Madarsatul Islam also died during nets when he was hit by a ball in the chest. He was contemporary of cricket legend Hanif Muhammad. Many years ago a hockey player while playing at Polo ground died when hit by the ball in the chest. A hockey player from Malir also died on the hockey pitch of UBL ground about ten years ago.These are some of the known incidents in which sportspersons passed away while playing on the field or immediately after competition off the field.