Pakistani cricket fraternity is mourning the unexpected death of fast bowler Aleem Khan, aged 24 years. He had succumbed to suddenly cardiac arrest during a PCB Challenge League match at Bannu on 5 May 2025. Aleem had collapsed during the bowling action; and although he was rushed to a nearby hospital, it was all to no avail.
Aleem was a young talent from Bannu emerging in Pakistan’s domestic scene; he had, however, not yet made to the higher leagues but had been showing good signals in his regional tournaments. In the very recent past, he picked up seven wickets in T20s and also chipped in with handy runs proving his mettle as an all-rounder.
The PCB Challenge League tries to pitch players of the lower strata into a higher one, but this incident does raise some questions about the setup of player safety during a game. Umprire Inamullah Khan, who witnessed the tragic incident, states that the moment Aleem collapsed, medical treatment was called on, but regrettably, it just was not enough.
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Director of Domestic Cricket of the PCB, Abdullah Khurram Niazi, said that he was deeply saddened by the loss of Aleem and further stated that it is a massive loss for Pakistan cricket. Now this unfortunate incident has opened discussions on other preparations for medical needs at domestic matches, primarily those held in less accessible areas. Aleem’s passing is a reminder of the huge pressure that athletes undergo and the need to institute a system of health monitoring within sports.
