By our correspondent
LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars’ assistant coach Riaz Afridi, elder brother of team captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, was rushed to hospital on Tuesday after falling ill during a training session, just days before the team’s crucial final league match in the Pakistan Super League.
Team sources revealed that Riaz experienced a sudden drop in blood sugar levels while at practice, prompting an immediate medical response. He was swiftly taken to a nearby medical facility where he is now receiving treatment and reported to be stable.
Riaz Afridi, who briefly represented Pakistan at the international level with a solitary Test appearance in 2004, has been a regular fixture on the coaching staff of the Qalandars, working closely with the team and his younger brother throughout the season. His sudden illness has come at a critical juncture for the franchise, as the team prepares for a do-or-die encounter against Peshawar Zalmi on May 9.
The pressure on Lahore Qalandars is palpable. With nine points from nine games, the side must secure a win in their final match to stay alive in the tournament. The stakes have only grown higher after Peshawar Zalmi’s dramatic victory over Multan Sultans, which shook up the points table and left the race to the playoffs hanging in the balance.
Shaheen Shah Afridi now finds himself tasked with not only leading a team on the brink of elimination but also coping with the emotional strain of his brother’s medical emergency. The squad, already walking a fine line between qualification and exit, must summon both skill and resilience as they head into Thursday’s decisive clash.
