29 yr old Afghan batsman Najeeb Tarakai passes away after accident

Kabul: Najeeb Tarakai, the Afghanistan top-order batsman passed away on Tuesday from injuries he sustained in a road accident. He was 29.

Najeeb met with an accident on Friday and was brought to a nearby hospital in critical condition, where he also underwent a surgery. The Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed on Tuesday that he had succumbed to his injuries.

"ACB and Afghanistan Cricket Loving Nation mourns the heart breaking 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," the board tweeted.

Tarakai, who made his first-class debut against Zimbabwe A in 2014, was a consistent performer in first-class cricket and averaged 47.2 in 24 games. In April last year, he notched up his highest first-class score of 200 against Mis Ainak Region. 

He also played 12 T20Is and one ODI for his country. He compiled his highest score (90) in T20Is versus Ireland in Noida in 2017.

After being the top scorer for Speen Ghar Tigers in the Shpageeza Cricket League last year, he was part of the Mis Ainak Knights squad in their run to the finals last month.(UNI)