Coronavirus kills former Pakistan cricketer Zafar Sarfraz

The coronavirus tolls would put a cricket scoreboard to shame with its rapidness. So far, close to two million are infected, and over 1.2 lakhs killed across the world. 

The Sarfraz family of Peshawar suffered its second blow in a span of ten months after Zafar Sarfraz, a former Pakistani first-class cricketer, died due to the novel coronavirus. Zafar is the first professional cricket player from Pakistan to succumb to the pandemic, after testing positive last Tuesday. 

The 50-year-old first fell ill previously this month and was put on a ventilator at Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar after his condition deteriorated.

PCB has expressed grief over the passing of former first-class cricketer Zafar Sarfaraz from Peshawar due to coronavirus on Monday. It has also offered its sympathies to Zafar's family and friends. pic.twitter.com/V0r00VQsFm

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 14, 2020

A left-handed batsman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler, he played first-class cricket from 1988 to 1994. He retired in 1994. Zafar managed 616 runs from 15 first-class games for Peshawar and also had 96 runs from six one-day games. 

Post-retirement, the all-rounder moved into coaching. He was appointed as a coach for both the senior as well as the Under-19 Peshawar teams in the mid-2000s.

“Sarfraz was healthy and lively, but some ten days ago he developed symptoms of the coronavirus and did not survive,” a family member quoted to AFP.

Zafar Sarfaraz was the brother of Pakistan international player Akhtar Sarfraz, who died of colon cancer last year.

Azam Khan's death
In March, Azam Khan, a famous squash star, from Pakistan also died of novel coronavirus at the age of 95. Azam had tested positive for COVID-19 and breathed his last in London’s Ealing Hospital. He won four consecutive British Open titles between 1959-62.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has recorded more than 5,000 coronavirus cases, and nearly 100 deaths have been reported.