Cricket club left stunned by death of popular member during match
PLAYERS were left “distraught” when a Nottinghamshire cricketer died during a match at the weekend.
Maqsood Ahmad, one of the oldest members of Chilwell Cricket Club, collapsed at Hetley Pearson Recreation Ground, Beeston, on Saturday.
The 67-year-old, who had just finished batting, had gone to his car to fetch an inhaler but never came back, his club chairman said.
By the time he was found by a doctor, he was unresponsive and later declared dead.
Mr Ahmad, a Chilwell resident and member of the club for 15 years, was described as “very well-known” throughout the Nottinghamshire cricket community.
“He was very nice, very humble, polite and very well spoken,” said Chilwell chairman Kashif Akram. “He always gave insight and advice to younger members of the club.”
Players, particularly younger members, had been “shaken up” by the death, he said.
“It hits you hard. We were winning the game, edging closer to the win, then that happened. The game becomes irrelevant.”
Mr Ahmad, originally from Pakistan where he served as a major in the armed forces, suffered from breathing problems, Mr Akram said.
The grandad collapsed on the grass near his car at the end of the first innings against Claypole.
Mr Akram said that, due to view of the car park area being obstructed, no-one found him for around 10 to 15 minutes.
“A doctor who was cycling past tried to give CPR but unfortunately it was too late,” he said.
“We tried to support him as much as possible. We had to abandon the match. There were a lot of emotional and distraught people, including the opposition.”
Mr Akram said he had received “really good condolences” from other cricket clubs in the county.
Stapleford Cricket Club will hold a minute’s silence at its game next week. “We are sharing our deepest sympathies with Chilwell CC, whom tragically suffered the passing of a player during today’s game,” it wrote on Facebook. “Absolutely horrendous news.”