Canadian billionaire Ajmal Hasan Khan, aged 60, passed away from a suspected heart attack following a workout at a luxury hotel on The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. The incident took place on Monday while Khan was staying alone at the resort, as confirmed by family friend Nadeem Khan to Khaleej Times from India.
Nadeem Khan explained, "Mr. Ajmal had just completed a workout at the hotel gym when he reported feeling unwell to a staff member and collapsed shortly thereafter. The family is coordinating with local authorities to repatriate his body to Canada. This is an immense and unforeseen loss, and we are still struggling to come to terms with the tragedy," Nadeem said.
"Ajmal Khan's mother comes from the distinguished Burlington family in Lucknow, and his passing has deeply saddened both the family and the broader community," he added.
The eldest of three brothers, Khan was the founder and president of the Verus Group of Companies. He gained significant recognition for establishing and financing the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), an annual Twenty20 cricket tournament held in the Caribbean.
Born in Nigeria to parents of Indian descent, Khan initially resided in England before obtaining Canadian citizenship. He primarily lived in Barbados, where he had diverse business interests.
In July 2013, Khan inaugurated the inaugural edition of the CPL, a franchise-based cricket league featuring Caribbean and international players. Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg was among those who took an ownership stake in the Barbados Trident, one of the six teams of the league, at Khan's behest.
"Thanks to my dear friend Ajmal Khan, who introduced me to Barbados and the league, I am a huge cricket fan now," stated Wahlberg.
Funeral prayers for Khan will be held on Saturday at 1:40 pm at Meadowvale Cemetery in Mississauga, Canada.
Medical experts have consistently cautioned that strenuous physical activity can present a fatal risk, especially for individuals with underlying heart conditions. They advise thorough assessment and exercise testing before commencing any rigorous physical activity routine.
