A CRICKETER who collapsed after suffering a brain haemorrhage during a cricket match, remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Hashim Akhtar, aged 18, was put in an induced coma after being rushed to hospital on Friday night.

The Bolton Sixth Form college student will be given a scan on his brain tomorrow, Tuesday May 31, after an operation was carried out on Saturday to remove a blood cot.

He is currently at Salford Royal Hospital having first received care at Royal Bolton Hospital and is believed to have been diagnosed with an abnormal blood vessel in his brain.

The teenager, of Rankine Terrace in Deane, was playing in a Twenty20 match for Astley Bridge CC against Bradshaw CC on Friday night when he collapsed in the toilets of the Sharples Park ground.

He was found by his teammates, who had said that Hashim had complained of feeling ill at the end of their innings and noticed he was missing when they went out to field.

He underwent an operation to remove a blood clot in his brain in the early hours of Saturday at Salford Royal Hospital, having first received emergency care at Royal Bolton Hospital.

The Bolton Sixth Form College student, who is currently taking his A-levels, has been kept in an induced coma since Saturday while doctors monitor his recovery.

His mum, Mrs Akhtar, told The Bolton News: "The doctors have told us that they can’t bring him out of the coma yet.

"His family is all here to support him and we will have to wait and see what the doctors say."

His family — including his three younger siblings, Haaris, Hamna, and Abdullah — have spent the weekend at his bedside waiting to see when he can be woken up.

Mrs Akhtar added: "They aren’t really sure of the extent of the problem and he went in for a couple more scans on Sunday so they can have a look at his brain.

“They need to give him time to rest and recover before they think about waking him up."

Hashim’s teammates reported that he had felt ill at the end of their innings and they noticed he was missing when they went out to field.

Fortunately, the father of one of the Bradshaw players is a doctor and was able to look after him until paramedics arrived at the scene.

The former Ladybridge High student had suffered with migraines in the past and doctors have now diagnosed an abnormal blood vessel in his brain.

The promising all-rounder has been playing for Astley Bridge from the age of 13 and was due to be watched by Lancashire scouts on Sunday.

Hashim’s cousin and Astley Bridge teammate, Zakiv Avzal, said: “They had to induce a coma to stop his seizures because they had gone on for about two hours. His family are with him and all of our prayers go out to him.

“Hopefully he will be able to pull through.”

Hashim's father, Fawad, was a cricket pro for Bolton, Darcy Lever, and Bolton Indians and brother Haaris, aged 14, is also a promising cricketer.

Simon Entwistle, Astley Bridge CC captain, added: “It has been a massive shock to all of us.

“When we went back out to field someone said he was being sick in the toilets and when we went to check on him he was on the floor having a fit.

“He has been playing with us ever since he was young. He is very highly thought of and Lancashire were due to come and watch him at his match on Sunday.

“He has been with the club for many years and is Astley Bridge through and through. We all think the world of him.”

Today, Monday May 30, he added: "There is no news at the moment.

"I understand that he was being left until Tuesday before any more assessments."

Since news of his condition began to circulate on social media on Friday night, messages of support have flooded in from cricket clubs across the region.

Ray Taylor, secretary of Bolton Cricket League, said: "All of the lads in the Bolton League are thinking about Hashim and his family at this difficult time and we send them our best wishes."

Nick Lester, Bradshaw CC captain, added: “We didn’t really know the full extent of what was going on at first. Luckily we had people there who were able to help until the ambulance arrived.

“The result of the game pales into insignificance compared to what has gone on.

“Everybody at Bradshaw CC sends our best wishes and we hope that he can get better soon.”

Atiq-uz-Zaman posted on Twitter: “I just can't believe how life can be cruel. He was playing cricket one minute and now he is fighting for his life. Get well soon Hashim.”