Pakistan club cricketer dies while batting

Zulfiqar Bhatti, a 22-year-old club cricketer, died on Wednesday after being hit on the chest while batting during the Begum Khursheed Memorial T20 tournament in Sukkur, a district in Pakistan's Sindh province.

Bhatti, who was captained by his elder brother Ali Asad, was struck on the chest while attempting a pull shot. He was rushed to a civil hospital where he was declared dead.

"It is sad news for us and everyone is shocked about his accidental death," Ayaz Mehmood, districts cricket secretary, told ESPNcricinfo. "The district administration has suspended sports activities throughout Sukkur district for three days as condolence."

Bhatti was laid to rest in his native graveyard and his funeral prayers were offered at Dargah Bedil Bekas in the town yesterday. "Seconds before collapsing, he signalled that he was fine," Mehmood said. "He was immediately taken to a hospital where he was put on ventilator and doctors made every attempt to revive him but it seems like he had breathed his last on the pitch."

Bhatti was the youngest of five sons in the family.