Former Pakistani cricketer dies of coronavirus

Former Pakistani first-class cricketer Zafar Sarfraz becamethe first professional player in the country to die after contracting the novelcoronavirus, his family confirmed Tuesday.

The 50-year-old first fell ill earlier this month and wasput on a ventilator at a hospital in Peshawar after his condition deteriorated.

   

He died late Monday.

“Sarfraz was healthy and lively but some 10 days ago hedeveloped symptoms of the coronavirus and did not survive,” said a familymember who spoke to AFP.

Sarfraz, a middle-order batsman, played 15 first-class gamesin Peshawar and retired in 1994.

Pakistan has recorded more than 5,000 coronavirus cases todate and nearly 100 deaths.

Lack of testing and an underfunded health care sector,however, has raised fears the country is ill-equipped to handle a spike incases.

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