THE family of a young cricketer who collapsed after suffering a brain haemorrhage say they have received overwhelming support from across Bolton and beyond.

Hashim Akhtar, aged 18, was playing in a Twenty-20 match for Astley Bridge CC when he collapsed in the toilets of the Sharples Park ground.

The Bolton Sixth Form student had a blood clot removed and was placed in an induced coma.

Now he is being weaned off his medication at Salford Royal Hospital and his family are waiting for him to wake up. He is still on the oxygen the levels have been reduced. He has a temperature.

His mother Sobia Akhtar said: “We are just waiting for him to wake up.

“Sometimes you can notice some movement.”

She added: “We had a lot of support from family and friends, his cricket friends have been to visit him.

“They have really good.

“We have tweets from support from cricket players.

“Hashim is very popular.”

Hashim lives in Deane with his three younger siblings, Haaris, Hamna and Abdullah.

He is former pupil of Ladybridge High School and is taking his A-levels

The family is trying to keep life as busy and normal as possible for them to stop them from becoming too upset.

Hashim has been playing cricket since he was 13 and has represented Bolton and the weekend he fell ill, Lancashire coaches were due to watch him.

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

There has been an outpouring of support from the cricket community including well wishes from neighbouring cricket clubs and Hashim’s college.