Sussex cricketer drowns

A county cricketer has drowned in an accident which also claimed the life of his younger brother.

Sussex all-rounder Umer Rashid, 26, and his brother Burhan, 18, drowned while on a pre-season tour of Grenada.

The brothers were swimming at Concord Falls, a tourist attraction comprising three waterfalls - one with a 40 ft drop - on the west of the Caribbean island yesterday. One is believed to have got into difficulties, the other dived in to help, but both were pulled under by strong currents.

Sussex County Cricket Club today confirmed the death of Rashid, who joined from Middlesex two years ago and was on the verge of making a permanent break-through into the first team.

A statement from Sussex said: "The club is in a state of shock after the tragic deaths of Umer Rashid, 26, and his brother Burhan.

"Umer was a great favourite with both staff and supporters alike. He will be sadly missed as a friend and a colleague"

Former Middlesex colleague Jason Pooley described the squad's shock, particularly with the news coming less than two weeks after Surrey and England cricketer Ben Hollioake's death in a car crash in Australia. Pooley said: "A lot of the lads feel they have lost two close friends."