A blind cricket player who played for the New Zealand Blindcaps, Parveen Shankar, died suddenly in his sleep, according to reports.
Parveen was 41.
The NZ Herald reported that Shankar went to bed on September 25 at the home he shared with his parents in Ranui but sadly did not wake up.
Speaking to the NZ Herald, his sister-in-law Archana Shankar said everyone is in shock as aside from his blindness, Parveen was not ill and was still regularly playing cricket.
“He wasn’t ill or anything and had even gone to play cricket that day, so his passing has come really as a shock,” Archana said.
The New Zealand Blind Cricket Association paid tribute on Facebook:
It is with such a heavy heart that once again the NZ #BlindCricket community mourns the passing of one of our great game contributors.
Parveen Shankar passed away unexpectedly last night at home with family and loved ones close by (and doing what he loved).
Those of you who had the pleasure of meeting Parveen will remember his passion for the game and his love of his “blind life” and blind whanau. One of our greatest B1 players with so much more to offer the game.
Parveen came to us after he lost his vision in a car accident. His potential was spotted for the Pakistan Blind Cricket World Cup around 2006 after he rolled about 10 cricket balls down the centre line of an uneven sports hall where 2 chairs were used as stumps – those who met him will have heard that story many times before.
He was ALWAYS willing to get out in to the blindness community and promote any sports we could offer, but cricket was his true love in his blind life, before that it was soccer.
While it is still so hard to believe he has left us so young… and we know that our cricket tours and matches will have an empty space where that Nō 10 belongs… we [pray] that you fly high our friend. One day we’ll get a win for you and all those we have lost recently.
Arohanui – it is not goodbye but we’ll see you soon.
Parveen, originally from Fiji, lost his sight after a car accident in 2004, according to the NZ Herald.
No cause of death has been made public.
