Despite the fact that cricketers maintain their optimum fitness levels, follow disciplined diet plans and engage in incessant practice and exercising sessions, yet some players meet fatal diseases. Here are some of the players who have fought bravely with diabetes that hit amid their cricketing career.
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Wasim AkramAt just a tender age of 29, the legendary left-handed Pakistani pacer was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. However, he overpowered this deadly disease and did not let it hinder his passion for cricket. He once mentioned, "I was diagnosed with diabetes in 1997. I was only 29 years old. I thought my life was gone — no more cricket. But, my wife gave me mental strength. It’s just mental discipline. Temptations are there. I feel like having biryani every night — naans and kulchas, and niharis. But, I avoid it."
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Craig CummingA case quite similar to Wasim Akram, Craig Cumming of New Zealand, too, fell prey to diabetes quite early in his life and was tested for Type 1 in 2006. He once said, “The way I was feeling mentally and physically, I was probably ready to give up cricket. You need a fair bit of mental and physical strength, but I'd lost all that and remember making a phone call to a good friend . . . and talked about whether I wanted to continue playing. But, once I started on insulin, it was like I'd been injected with energy.”
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John McLarenThe Australian batsmen had a close battle against diabetes and unfortunately, was drawn towards the jaws of death in 1921. He had played just a Test for Australia, besides playing 33 First-Class matches for Queensland.
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Craig McMillanIn his childhood days only, at the mere age of 15, the New Zealand all-rounder was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Often in the field, he was seen with a bag of jellybeans with him, so as to lift his sugar levels, if he felt he was running low. A player with unparalleled confidence and valor, he had 11 years of successful cricketing career. In his career, he smashed 3,116 Testand 4,707 ODI runs.
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Dirk WellhamDespite having diabetes, the former legendary Australian batsman did not deter his spirits. He had a six-year cricketing career and played six Test matches, as well as 17 ODIs, and is one of three players to score a century in both his First-Class and Test debuts.
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