New Hong Kong cricket captain recalls dramatic escape from deadly Pakistan hotel fire
An “honoured” Yasim Murtaza is poised to begin his reign as Hong Kong cricket captain next week – eight years after he leapt from a second-floor hotel window to escape a deadly fire.
All-rounder Murtaza, who replaced Nizakat Khan last month, moved to Hong Kong in 2017, after the broken heel he sustained when jumping from his room at Karachi’s Regent Plaza hotel ended his 10-year first-class career at the age of 26.
Having played with “the cream of Pakistan cricket” after making his Rawalpindi debut aged 16, Murtaza would later re-emerge in Hong Kong colours, initially in 2022 against Uganda – who will also be his first opponents as skipper next Tuesday.
But in December 2016, he was midway through a four-day match for his United Bank Limited team when a fire began in the kitchen of the team’s hotel. It would kill 11 people and injure 75 more.
“I woke from a deep sleep at around 3am or 4am and there was smoke everywhere – we had zero visibility,” Murtaza told the Post.
“We went to the fire exit next to our room, but the stairs were on fire. We rushed back to the room, I grabbed a chair and smashed the window, then jumped from the second floor.
“I still wonder how I survived. I couldn’t sleep for a few weeks afterwards, I would feel my room was on fire and there was smoke everywhere. It took me a few months to recover [mentally].
“It is hard to think about, because it takes me back there.”
Gulraiz Sadaf, his roommate, injured his back after jumping. Murtaza recognised he had suffered a serious injury when he could not place his right ankle on the floor.
After one year of rehabilitation, the slow left-arm bowler and left-handed batter acknowledged he “was not in the shape to spend four days in the field”. He accepted an offer to play T20 and 50-over cricket for Pakistan Association Cricket Club in Hong Kong.
“I came to have a look for six months, then decided to stay,” Murtaza, 34, said.
The 34-year-old will bring some captaincy credentials as he succeeds Nizakat, who stepped down to focus on his own game.
He led Pakistan under-19s, and has played under the leadership of test greats Younis Khan and Shoaib Akhtar, and current Pakistan skipper Shan Masood.
“I took things from all of them,” Murtaza said. “I learned a lot from Younis – we are still in a group chat, but he’s very busy and I don’t want to disturb him too much.”
Murtaza has also spent 11 years playing English club cricket, for Staffordshire team Whitmore CC and Esh Winning in Durham, where he came up against future England captain Ben Stokes.
“You could see [Stokes] was a fighter and would play first-class cricket,” he said.
“When you are an overseas professional in England, you have a big responsibility to score runs and take wickets, so it was a valuable experience.”
Murtaza’s Hong Kong cricket wish list includes having more local players in the representative team, a deeper talent pool generally and greater access to outdoor facilities. He is excited about the potential of 16-year-old pair Shiv Mathur and Danny Mapp, Samad Khan, 18, and 20-year-old Hafeez Khan.
“We have good players coming through and need that competition to stay ahead of our rivals,” Murtaza said.
The forthcoming tri-series against Uganda and Bahrain is preparation for next month’s Challenge League in Hong Kong, in which the hosts can make progress towards recapturing their one-day international status.
Murtaza, who is untroubled by his heel today, has targeted a climb from No 23 to “around 16 or 17” in the T20 world rankings.
More immediately, Murtaza is keen to lead Hong Kong back to the ODI ranks.
“Wanting that ODI status doesn’t mean we’re under pressure,” Murtaza said. “I know everyone’s ability and we’re just focused on playing good cricket.
“I am a jolly person and always smiling, and that won’t change. I am really excited and want to make a positive start.”
SOURCE:
https://www.scmp.com/sport/cricket/...ls-dramatic-escape-deadly-pakistan-hotel-fire
