In an unfortunate event, young South African cricketer, Lukhanya Tsiki, died during a practice session in Eastern Cape town of Alice on Monday, April 18, after he collapsed at the Fort Hare Academy. The 22-year-old cricketer is suspected to have died due to a heart failure.

Members of the academy staff tried to revive him before he was transferred to the Alice Hospital where he passed away later the same day. The academy is run by former South Africa Test fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam.

“Normally at this time of the year, guys will do fitness. On Monday, we wanted to check where the guys were with fitness,” Ngam told.

“He was fine, he didn’t have any problems, he was one of those guys who could run the yo-yo [bleep test] up to 20. He ran 17 and after he was finished, he took his shirt off and sat with his mates and coughed and collapsed. We took him to the hospital but it was too late.”

Tsiki was an all-rounder who batted left-handed and bowled right-arm medium pace and was studying a diploma course in Marketing Management.

He had previously represented Border Schools at the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola under-19 cricket week in 2010 and 2011 while a student at Queen’s College.

“This is shocking news for the entire South African cricketing community,” said Cricket South Africa chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, “and on behalf of the CSA family, I extend our deepest condolences to his family, his friends and his cricketing colleagues. We will do everything we can to provide counselling and support to his family as well as the staff and players of the Academy who have understandably been deeply affected by this traumatic event.”

Tsiki is survived by his brothers, Khaya and Cebo, and his sister, Neliswa.