Cricketer drops dead in middle of a game

The Edinburgh United Sports Club yesterday gave cricketer Suresh Ticklal a send-off with a cricket bat guard of honour after he collapsed and died during a match on Saturday. Ticklal, of Edinburgh Village, Chaguanas, collapsed and died at the Dow Village, California Recreation Ground while playing cricket. He died of a heart attack. The incident occurred about 4.45 pm while Ticklal was one of the batsmen at the wicket. After running six runs, Ticklal collapsed at the bowler’s end of the wicket.

Fellow players rushed to his assistance and noticed he was semi-conscious. The players took Ticklal to the nearby Couva Health Facility where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The cricket match against Dow Village Sports Club was called off and Ticklal’s wife, Stacy Ann, was informed of her husband’s demise. Ticklal, father of two sons, was vice president of the club and had been playing competitive cricket for the past 20 years. Dressed in white shirt and pants, Ticklal’s fellow team-mates formed a guard of honour with their cricket bats in the air as the body left the house for the Waterloo Cremation site yesterday. 

After the final rites were performed by Pundit Doodnath, team-mates formed a guard of honour above the casket by making a semi-circular arch with their bats as the body was being taken to the hearse. After the casket was placed inside the hearse,  teammates formed another guard of honour. Club’s president Azard Shah described Ticklal as an avid sportsman who brought unity to the club. He said Ticklal had been a member for more than 20 years and had proven himself to be a tough competitor. Relative Rhonda Seunarine Ticklal said Ticklal was a talented sportsman, creative potter, and a devoted, committed husband and father.