Pak-born cricketer dies of extreme Adelaide heat

An unfortunate incident took place during a cricket match between Old Concordians' Cricket Club and Prince Alfred Old Collegians. A Pakistan-born player, Junaid Zaffar Khan, passed away due to extreme heat in Adelaide. According to a report by The Free Press Journal, the match was played on March 15 with temperatures rising high up to 41.6 degrees.

The player named Junai Zafar Khan was representing Old Concordians' Cricket Club during the match. The report suggested that the player fielded for around 40 overs and later came out to bat for his team. While batting at 16, the player suddenly collapsed on the pitch. Following the incident, an ambulance reached to carry the deceased within a few minutes.

Another report by the Daily Mail has revealed Junaid was observing fast in the holy month of Ramadan. One of his friends also revealed that the player was drinking throughout the day despite knowing it is prohibited to drink and eat from dawn to sunset during Ramadan.

Later when the player was declared dead, the Old Concordians' Cricket Club released a statement that said, "We are deeply saddened by the passing of a valued member of the Old Concordians’ Cricket Club, who tragically suffered a medical episode while playing on the Concordia College Oval today. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he sadly did not survive. Thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends, and teammates during this difficult time."

In 2013, Junaid had shifted to Adelaide to work in the tech industry. Post his demise, his friends paid him tribute through social media posts and stories.

It is important to note that the Adelaide Turf Cricket Association already had some strict guidelines for playing cricket in extreme heat conditions. According to the rules:

- All cricket fixtures would be automatically cancelled if the temperature reaches 42°C.

- For temperatures between 40°C and 42°C, special precautions will be taken, including additional breaks for player rehydration.