Promising Northerns all-rounder cricketer Mpho Pedi, contracted to play for the Titans next season, is in a critical condition in the Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein after being stabbed more than a dozen times. The 22 year-old wicketkeeper-batsman had been on holiday in the Free State capital where he was visiting his mother when he was attacked and repeated stabbed in a city street on Wednesday night. A member of this year's Northerns Academy Pedi had been selected by the coach, Peter Kirsten, as Northerns transformation player for the senior provincial squad and at the end of last season spoke highly of the stocky player's ability and skills as a wicketkeeper and lower-order batsman.

``He is one of the stars of the future,'' was Kirsten's view when discussing new players at the end of last season. ``He may be the smallest player on the provincial scene but he makes up for it in his own way: he is all heart and has a tremendous fighting spirit.''

Known to his teammates as Gift the Bloemfontein educated youngster had played for South Africa under/15, under/17 and Colts teams and made his first-class debut for Northerns two summers ago after transferring from Bloemfontein to Centurion.

Anton Ferreira, director of the Northerns Academy, Northerns director of coaching Dave Nosworthy and the Titans assistant coach, Chris van Noordwyk drove to Bloemfontein yesterday to be with the critically-ill player. Ferreira said Pedi had been in the intensive care unit since Wednesday night and was checking out details last night.

``All I can say is that he is in a serious condition, really serious, it is that bad,'' Ferreira said last night. Kirsten has been told of Pedi's condition.

Trevor Chesterfield Cricket Writer Pretoria News chesters@cricinfo.com sirlen@icon.co.za