Dubai-based Indian expat dies after sudden on-field collapse during cricket match

THE TIMES OF INDIA - A 38-year-old Indian expatriate who had lived in Dubai for nearly 15 years, died after collapsing during a routine cricket match.

Mohammed Safwan Shanu hails from Bhatkal in Karnataka Safwan was batting during a weekly Sunday morning cricket game when he suddenly collapsed on the pitch at around 7.10am. Teammates rushed to help and called an ambulance. CPR was administered before he was taken to the hospital, where doctors later declared him dead on arrival.

Friends said there had been no indication that anything was wrong. The evening before the match, Safwan had visited Dubai's Waterfront Market with friends to buy fish and groceries before preparing for the game, a long-standing weekend routine.
A close friend of Safwan Nabeel Karikal, who was with him on the field, told Khaleej Times that everything appeared normal before the incident.
"We play cricket every Sunday morning, and this has become our routine for years. On Saturday evening, we went to the Waterfront Market to buy fish and groceries. He was perfectly fine. The next morning, we even travelled together in the same car to the ground, and everything was normal," Nabeel said.

He added, "Safwan suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness while batting. We immediately called for an ambulance. CPR was performed, and he was rushed to the hospital. We later came to know that doctors had declared him dead on arrival."
Safwan moved to the UAE around 15 years ago and built his life in Dubai, where he lived with his wife and their four children, three sons and a daughter born just four months ago.
After working for a private company for about eight years, he later started his own business. Outside work, he was widely known for his involvement in community cricket, having captained teams and won numerous player-of-the-match and tournament awards over the years.

Community leader Muniri Atiqur Rahman, who had known Safwan since childhood, said he would be remembered not only for his achievements on the cricket field but also for his character and relationships with others.

Safwan's parents wanted to travel from India to Dubai to attend the funeral, but did not have UAE visas. Relatives stepped in to coordinate the visa process, complete the necessary documentation and arrange travel so they could reach Dubai in time for their son's final rites.

Friends said cricket remained a constant throughout Safwan's life, from his childhood in Bhatkal to his years in Dubai, where he became a familiar figure in local cricket circles.