KABUL: Afghanistan top-order batsman Najeeb Tarakai, who was hit by a car in Jalalabad on Friday, has died at the age of 29.
Afghanistan Cricket Board released a statement saying, “ACB and Afghanistan Cricket Loving Nation mourns the heartbreaking and grievous loss of its aggressive opening batsman & a very fine human being Najeeb Tarakai (29) who lost his life to a tragic traffic accident leaving us all shocked.”
Former media manager of the Afghanistan cricket team Ibrahim Momand said on Friday there been no improvement in his condition and urged to shift him to a hospital in Kabul. Najeeb Tarakai sustained severe head injures and went into a coma after being hit by a car in Jalalabad.
Afghanistan Cricket Board had confirmed the news and said that they are in constant touch with the authorities. “National player Najeeb Tarakai was severely injured in a car accident yesterday and is in critical condition even after an operation last night. ACB has so far taken all necessary steps to facilitate his recovery in Nangarhar where he is under treatment currently.”
“ACB is also in regular contact with relevant authorities to assess his health condition and shift him to Kabul or outside Afghanistan as soon as possible whenever allowed by health officials. ACB staff and leadership pray for his speedy recovery and wish him good health,” Afghanistan Cricket Board said.
Najeeb Tarakai made his international debut for Afghanistan in 2014 against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup. In 12 Twenty20 Internationals, his highest score was 90 which he made against Ireland in 2017.
Tarakai had a good record in first-class cricket scoring over 2000 runs at an average of 47 with six centuries and 10 fifites. His highest score is 200. In List A cricket, he scored 553 runs in 17 matches with a high score of 121.
