Former first-class cricketer dies in car accident

Former first-class cricketer Nasir Wasti died in a traffic accident, on the night between Friday (July 21) and Saturday, in a collision between a car he was travelling in and a trailer on the Super Highway in Karachi.

Nasir Wasti, born in Karachi on September 6, 1967, was just 38 years old. He was a capable middle-order right-handed batsman and an occasional medium-pace bowler who played all his first-class cricket for the now defunct Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) team. Nasir Wasti's career at the top level lasted almost a decade and a half, his stint in first-class cricket running from 1986-87 to 1999-00. He also captained the PNSC during his last two seasons.

In all, Nasir played in 83 first-class matches, his 3,293 runs being scored at an average of 26.55. He made three hundreds -- highest 134 -- and as many as 22 half-centuries and held 51 catches as fieldsman. He also captured seven wickets at 69.00 runs apiece with best figures of 2-33. In 74 major limited overs matches, Nasir scored 1,249 runs at an average of 21.91 with a highest of 76 not out among his five fifties. He held 22 catches and took 20 wickets at 43.45 runs each with a best of 4-25 and an economy rate of 4.83.