Pakistan blind cricket captain “accidentally consumed phenyl”
Zeeshan Abbasi. -Photo courtesy PBCC
BANGALORE: The captain of Pakistan’s blind cricket team, Zeeshan Abbasi, needed hospital treatment on Saturday after drinking cleaning fluid that he mistook for mineral water at his hotel in India.
Doctors examined Abbasi, a fast bowler who is leading Pakistan’s team in the Blind World Twenty-20 World Cup Cricket Tournament in the southern city of Bangalore, and pronounced him fit to play.
“The cricketer accidentally consumed phenyl” from a plastic bottle at his hotel in the city, doctor Naresh Shetty told AFP. “He mistook the phenyl bottle for a water bottle.”
Phenyl is a fluid widely used to clean and disinfect bathrooms and public spaces.
“We examined him and have administered some medicines. Abbasi is totally fit to play and has been discharged from the hospital,” Shetty said.
The 28-year-old, who made his international debut in 2000, drank the cleaning fluid, which was diluted with water, during breakfast, local media reports said.
The doctor added that police were questioning housekeeping staff about how the incident had occurred and that the hotel had apologised to the player.
Chairman Blind Cricket Council Sultan Shah called the event an accident and said it “will not become an impediment in Indo-Pak cricket relations”.
“However, what we want to know from the hotel management, who have orally apologised to us, is how such an incident happened and who is responsible for such negligence,” Shah said, according to the Press Trust of India.
Pakistan’s blind team defeated India on Friday by eight wickets in the Twenty-20 tournament.
The incident comes as India and Pakistan are gearing up to play their first cricket series since ties were broken after the deadly 2008 attacks in Mumbai.
India is to host Pakistan for two T20 internationals and three 50 over matches from December 25, beginning in Bangalore. Matches will also be held in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata and the last game will be played in New Delhi on January 6.
I do find the India-Pak’s obsession with cricket little too much. Why should the blind cricket to be promoted at international level. How dangerous will be to deal with the cricket ball for a blind person.
we know the difference between acid and phenyl. and more importantly we know the difference between two faced people.
There is nothing wrong with Indians it was Pakistan cricket Team manager Bilal Satt,he should take the responsibility for this incident he didn’t look after his blind cricketers.
really? LOL
So the hotel staff should not be interrogated at all??? Maybe they were the ones who placed the bottle there in the first place?
he looks very handsome!
Blind cricketers are like children who have to be taken care properly.But unfortunately the Team Manager of the Pakistan Blind cricket team who was not disable(had eyes)did not take care of them properly.
Unfortunately the hotel staff, who probably were angry at the loss at the hands of Pakistan, placed the bottle next to the player deliberately.
Stop jumping to conclusions, as if you know the whole story.
Its shame on the part of Pakistani captain and team manager to blame India for their own mistakes.
Why is it a shame? Couldn’t the hotel staff have placed that bottle?
It’s a shame that people like you point fingers at Pakistanis without any proof or investigation.
First of all, there is no excuse for the hotel management for committing such a blunder with any human being who cant see properly. Its more embarrassing when it happens to a guest.
Secondly, i laud dawn for producing the name of the chemical. Other pakistani newspapers are reporters are claiming that he was given a glass of acid.
Know the difference between pheynl an acid people. No wonder agha waqar is a hero over there.