Young Pakistani cricketer dies on pitch after being hit in the chest by ball

All sports activities in the Pakistani city of Sukkur have been suspended for three days after a promising young cricketer, Zulfiqar Bhatti died here after being hit on the chest by a rising ball that caused his death on the pitch

Bhatti, 22, was batting at his usual one down position for his local club -- Super Star cricket club -- when the tragedy occurred on Tuesday.

"We were playing a match against Sindh Young cricket club at the Jinnah municipal stadium when Bhatti, who was a top player in Sukkur, was hit on the chest. As soon as the ball hit Bhatti on the chest he collapsed on the pitch and though we rushed him to hospital he was pronounced dead on arrival," club official Rehmat said.

"His only passion was to play first class cricket and then get into the national team. Cricket was his life. "Just one day before the match he was saying that now cricketers from the interior areas and small towns of Sindh also have a chance of playing for Pakistan after the debut of Sharjeel Khan who hails from Hyderabad," he added.

The authorities, as a mark of respect for the popular cricketer, announced a three-day suspension of all sporting activities in Sukkur, which is the third largest city in the Sindh province.