ISLAMABAD: Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan was in the ICU two days before last year’s Twenty20 World Cup semi-final. But in the decisive match once morest Australia, Rizwan, who returned to the team from hospital, scored 67 runs. Despite losing the match to Pakistan, the cricketing world applauded Rizwan’s willpower.
Rizwan, who scored 281 runs in 6 matches, finished the day as the 3rd run-scorer in the Twenty20 World Cup. Prior to the semifinals, Rizwan was admitted to hospital with a chest infection. While in hospital, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) doctor Najeebullah Somro opened his mind regarding Rizwan’s suffering.
He also revealed that he had to seek the permission of the ICC to inject Rizwan with a banned product.
‘You had a hard time even breathing. I’m got permission from the ICC to vaccinate you. The injection drug was on the list of banned products for athletes. I asked the ICC for permission to use it because there was no other way ‘- in an interview with Rizwan. Pakistani media reported that Somro had said.
Rizwan had intermittent fever, cough and fatigue 3–5 days before admission to the hospital. Subsequent examination confirmed that Rizwan was infected.
Rizwan himself has previously commented on the severity of the illness he suffered during the World Cup. ‘When I was rushed to the hospital, I might not breathe. The nurses did not tell me anything.
They only said that she would recover tomorrow morning and leave the hospital. They then tell me that if I had been 20 minutes late to the hospital, I would have ruptured both my airways’ – Rizwan had earlier told Cricket Pakistan.
‘The doctor told me that he wanted me to play in the semi-finals for Pakistan. But he later told me that you were not physically fit to play cricket now. I was a little nervous with this. He told me regarding the things to look out for and the preparations. Anyway, luckily things changed. I’ll be fine and play in the semifinals’ – Rizwan’s words.
English Summary: ‘Rizwan was unable to breathe; I’d to take permission from ICC for ‘prohibited’ medicine’: PCB doctor shares ICU details
