Mohammed Safwan Shanu, a 38-year old Dubai resident, collapsed while playing cricket on the weekend and was laid to rest in Al Qusais Cemetery on Monday afternoon, with the attendance of hundreds of mourners. Safwan had been living and working in Dubai,UAE for 15 years but was originally from Bhatkal, Karnataka in India. He is survived by his wife, three sons and a 4-month-old daughter. His friends and other members of the community found him to be a very respected person who was humble and kind, and had a very good way of relating to people of many backgrounds. His untimely death has left a void in the amicable hearts of family, friends and the Dubai cricketing fraternity as a whole.
Routine Sunday Match Turns Tragic
Close friends say that Safwan’s last weekend was quite normal. On Saturday evening, he went with his friends to Waterfront Market, Dubai, to shop for produce for the week. He set off to the cricket ground the next day with his colleagues – and it was now a Sunday tradition. During the match, a batter suddenly collapsed at about 7:10 am. Batting during the match at about 7:10 am, Safwan collapsed on the field. The other players quickly went to his help and dialed the 999 service. He was given CPR on the ground before being picked up by ambulance and driven to the local hospital. He was later found dead by doctors after trying to revive him. “Friends that had previously been with him for only a couple of hours said they didn’t see any of those signs that something was amiss,” said a friend who spoke with him of the event and it was all the more shocking to those who knew him.
Remembered as a Talented Cricketer and Beloved Community Member
Apart from his profession cricket was one of the many things that Safwan enjoyed. He spent a few years in the private sector before starting his own business, always being a big-time committee member of the local cricket side. In the course of the years he captained numerous teams and won several tournament championships in Dubai’s cricket circuit, and had also been many times the player of the match. His friends and fellow cricketers will miss him, considering him a most promising batsman who came out of Bhatkal. His legacy to the sport goes beyond his own accomplishments, leaving a lasting impact on younger generations and fostering a sense of family and friendship among the community through the sport of cricket.
On the death of Safwan, his parents said that they wanted to visit him in India for his funeral. Relatives and community volunteers were quick to get visas and flights organised, and travel documentation sorted, so everyone could be there for the last farewells. Safwan’s legacy extends beyond his cricketing achievements to his generosity, warmth, and the impact he made on all those surrounding him.
