Zafar Sarfraz, a former first-class cricketer in Pakistan, passed away in Peshawar on Monday, April 13 after contracting Covid-19.

The 50-year-old had tested positive for Covid-19 on April 7, and was admitted to a private hospital in the city, but saw his condition worsen over the course of the week. On Sunday, he was put under intensive care, and was on the ventilator, before he succumbed to the illness.

A left-handed batsman, Zafar played 15 first-class games and nine List-A games in a domestic career that ran from 1988/89 to 1994/95. In the longer format, he hit 616 runs at an average of 28.00, including four first-class half-centuries for Peshawar. After retirement, he went on to coach the Peshawar senior side as well as the Under-19s.

Zafar was the elder brother of international cricketer Akhtar Sarfraz, who represented Pakistan in four ODIs between 1997 and 1998. Akhtar passed away due to colon cancer at the age of 43 in June last year. Their brother Irfan Sarfraz has also represented Peshawar in first-class cricket.