by Carlena Knight
The two West Indies Women cricketers Chinelle Henry and Chedean Nation who collapsed during the team’s second T20 International match versus Pakistan on Friday at the Coolidge Cricket Grounds are said to be doing much better.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) issued a statement saying that both the cricketers were “conscious and stable”.
“Both Henry and Nation are conscious and stable at hospital and are being assessed,” the statement said.
The incidents took place during Pakistan’s chase within 10 minutes of each other.
Henry was the first to collapse during the fourth over of the Pakistan innings as the rest of the West Indies cricketers ran to help. A stretcher was summoned and Henry was taken to the hospital.
But just minutes later, as play resumed, Nation collapsed and was taken to the hospital as well.
“It isn’t very easy in those conditions and situations. I’m just happy that the team was able to go over the line for those two ladies who weren’t with us, and we’re just waiting on all the information that we can get,” Courtney Walsh, the West Indies head coach, said.
“They have our full support and we’ll be riding with them as well.”
Javeria Khan, the Pakistan captain, wished the pair a quick recovery.
“The thoughts and prayers of the whole Pakistan team are with Chinelle Henry and Chedean Nation,” she said in a statement.
“We wish them a quick recovery. Such incidents are tragic and can shake whole dressing rooms. Hats off to the West Indies that they turned up and completed the match despite the grave incident.”
It was an eerie feeling of deja vu for sports fans who, just weeks earlier, watched in shock and with concern as Denmark footballer Christian Eriksen collapsed and had to be rushed to the hospital during a Euro Cup match.
The second T20I match, which was also interrupted by rain, resumed after West Indies brought on two substitutes eventually winning by seven runs on the Duckworth-Lewis and Stern (DLS) method.
Kycia Knight was named player of the match.