A 20-year-old aspiring South Asian origin cricketer has died after a car plunged into a weir in Royal National Park, with two drivers now facing charges over the crash.

Muhammad Kashif, a university student studying electrical engineering, was a passenger in a blue Audi that veered off Audley Road and entered the water at Audley Weir early yesterday morning.

Police said the vehicle sank rapidly after entering the water. The 20-year-old driver managed to escape, but Kashif became trapped inside. Specialist police divers later recovered his body.

It is reported that the investigators were told the Audi and a Mercedes were travelling along the same stretch of road at the time of the incident. Authorities said there was no evidence of contact between the two vehicles.

Both drivers, the Audi driver and an 18-year-old man driving the Mercedes, were taken to the hospital for mandatory testing before being arrested and taken to Sutherland Police Station.

The Audi driver has been charged with alleged dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning death and driving dangerously. The 18-year-old has been charged with several driving offences, including driving while suspended, as well as drug-related charges.

Both men were granted conditional bail and are due to appear in court on 18 June.

Kashif, from Sydney’s south-west, was remembered as a talented and enthusiastic cricketer. His former coach, Omar Khan, said he would be remembered for his “energy and smile”.

“He was well known in the cricketing community and a really good kid full of ambitions.”

Tributes have continued to flow from friends, family and members of the local South Asian cricket community following the tragedy.

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