Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Khalil narrowly ditched death after suffering a serious road accident in Islamabad on Saturday.
Khalil's car turned turtle at high speed after he tried to avoid a cyclist who suddenly emerged from the right side of the high-speed track.
The bowler, in an unconscious state, was rushed to a local hospital where he was kept for 24 hours under intensive care.
He was discharged on Sunday with stitches on his face and head. He also suffered bruises on his shoulder, hand and other parts of the body but there were no fractured bones.
Khalil had returned from India last week after participating in the three-Test series. He played the Kolkata Test which Pakistan lost.
| |||||||||||
Ironically, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Khalil's employers Pakistan Telecommunication Limited (PTCL) were unaware of the fact that their player had barely survived a road accident.
When contacted in his hometown in Peshawar, Khalil said he was in a state of shock. "I am still in a state of shock. It was a terrible experience. I am thankful to Almighty to survive because my friends and relatives who saw my car, were simply amazed to see me escape with injuries that can now be termed as minor," Khalil told PTI in an exclusive telephonic conversation.
"Frankly speaking, I consider myself lucky to be talking to you. It could easily have been more serious.
"Despite the nightmare, I am happy that my cricket is not affected and I will be able to resume playing the sport in the next couple of weeks," Khalil said.
Khalil said he would watch the Pakistan-India One-Day series from his bed. "But my heart and soul will be with the Pakistan cricket team. I want to see them (Pakistan) win. I have been part of the team that won the Bangalore Test and know exactly what victory means to the Pakistan cricket team.
"Having been with the team in India, I can image what they would be doing and how they would be preparing for the game," he said, but jokingly added: "It is devastating to be left out of the One-Day squad but then if I had not been left out, how would have I experienced this accident that nearly cost me my life."
More from rediff