Cricket: Afghan international cricketer Najeeb Tarakai dies at age 29

Afghanistan's Najeeb Tarakai raises his bat to acknowledge the applause from the crowd. Photo / AP

International batsman Najeeb Tarakai has died from injuries sustained in a traffic accident last week, the Afghanistan Cricket Board said Tuesday. He was 29.

The ACB posted a tribute on Twitter, saying the cricket board and the country "mourns the heart breaking & grievous loss of its aggressive opening batsman & a very fine human being."

The Afghan cricket board earlier said Tarakai had surgery in Nangarhar last Friday after the accident and had been in a critical condition.

Afghanistan international cricketers including Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi expressed condolences on social media for Tarakai, who played one one-day international and 12 Twenty20 Internationals.

"It's very sad to learn Our Friend and Very Fine Cricketer Najeeb Tarakai lost his life to the injuries he was suffering from the recent accident. His loss kept us all stunned and speechless. My deepest condolences to his family and all friends. May his Soul Rest in Peace," Nabi said.

Tarakai played his only ODI against Ireland at Greater Noida in India in 2017. He was involved 12 T20 internationals over a period of six years after making his debut against Bangladesh in 2014. He scored 258 runs in the format at an average of 21.50 and a strike rate of almost 123.

- AP