The presence of mind shown by teammates saved the life of a 34-year-old cricketer – Rahul Sawant, of Dahisar Cricket Club – after he suffered a heart attack while playing in Dr HD Kanga League at Azad Maidan on Sunday. Rushed to Bombay Hospital, the wicketkeeper-batsman is now in the ICU.

According to Dahisar CC owner and captain Pravin Gogri, opener Sawant, who scored 30 in the 'F' Division match against BRD Cricket Club at Fort Vijay (adjacent to Bombay Gymkhana), complained of uneasiness and giddiness while returning to the pavilion. "He was also feeling suffocated and could not bare the pain. We gave him water, but it didn't help. We could not find the doctors provided by the Mumbai Cricket Association. Then we rushed him to Bombay Hospital," said Gogri.

Gogri, a former managing committee member of the MCA, was upset with the parent association. "The Kanga League (rule) book says there are doctors at various grounds, but we could not find one at Azad Maidan. God knows what would have happened had we reached (the hospital) late," Gogri said.

One of Gogri's teammates said it was shocking to learn that Sawant had suffered an attack. "He doesn't smoke or drink. He is a nice man and a good cricketer," the player said on condition of anonymity. For the 64-year-old Gogri, who has been playing club cricket for more than four decades, this is a first. "Life is full of stress these days. Today's youngsters lead an unhealthy life. They sleep late and have loads of stress. We have now started going back to playing Kanga League on wet wickets. This could cause injuries. The MCA should be prepared if something like this happens," he added.

Gogri is hopeful that the youngster will be out of hospital soon. "Sawant has spent Rs 40,000 already. Let's hope he is out of danger. He is the only son of his parents," Gogri added. The club owner also complained about the lack of ambulances. "You never know what can happen. I am sure MCA can afford ambulances for emergency situations," said Gogri. Efforts to contact MCA officials did not bear fruit.