Two Pakistan first-class players injured in fire mishap

Two Pakistan first-class cricketers got injured in a fire mishap at the Regent Plaza Hotel in Karachi, the Dawn reported on Monday (December 5). United Bank Limited (UBL), the country’s first-class team, were put up at the hotel for their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Super Eight match against Habib Bank Limited.

Yasim Murtaza, the all-rounder, and Karamat Ali, a leg spinner, sustained injuries while trying to escape. While Murtaza fractured his heel when he jumped off the second floor to the first floor, the 20-year-old leggie suffered a hand injury, as smoke started to enter their rooms.

“The blaze broke out in the kitchen located at the ground floor of the four-star hotel located on the city’s Shahrah-i-Faisal, and swept through the building, trapping scores of hotel guests in their rooms,” read a press release issued by the Saddar Police Station. It is reported that the incident has left at least 11 people dead and 75 others injured.

Nadeem Khan, head of the UBL Sports Department, said that the team was staying at the fourth floor of the hotel and woke up to the fire. He also added that Sohaib Maqsood, who has played 26 One-Day Internationals and 20 Twenty20 Internationals for Pakistan, was also at the hotel but remained safe in the fire, while helping the others during the rescue act.

While the players were mentally scarred by the mishap and not keen on participating further in the match anytime soon, the Pakistan Cricket Board eventually abandoned the game, awarding both the teams a point each.

 

SOURCE: PTI