Headlines
Young Bengal cricketer dies after on-field collision
Kolkata, April 20
Promising cricketer and
former Bengal Under-19 captain Ankit Kesri, who sustained a head injury
in an on-field collision during a local game three days back, died at a
private hospital here on Monday morning. The bereaved family alleged
"medical negligence".
The 20-year-old East Bengal player was
injured and fell unconscious on the ground on Friday following a
collision with another fielder while taking a catch during a Cricket
Association of Bengal (CAB) senior knockout match against Bhowanipore.
The
opening batsman, who was also a member of the Under-23 Bengal squad
this year, passed away Monday morning following a massive heart attack, a
CAB official said.
CAB treasurer Biswarup Dey said soon after
the collision, Kesri was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation by another
cricketer, S.S. Singh, and then examined by a doctor before being rushed
to a hospital close to the ground in an ambulance stationed at the
Jadavpur University stadium.
Ankit's father Raj Kumar Kesri
alleged his son had to be shifted to a private city hospital in central
Kolkata on Sunday following the instructions given by a CAB official.
"On
Friday, tests and scans were done initially and the doctors said he is
fine. We were told he is normal and he will be transferred to the
general ward from the ICU. But later they said, he had contracted fever
and so they didn't shift him to the general ward," Ankit's father told a
TV channel on Monday.
"We shifted him to another hospital after the doctors said CAB officials had suggested so."
"At
the other hospital, doctors said there is a slight injury and he is
drowsy. They said he will remain there for three to four days. On
Sunday, they informed us he will be shifted to the general ward but we
got a phone call early morning today saying there was a heart block," he
added.
Raj Kumar also alleged medical negligence for his son's tragic demise.
"If
the treatment was good, then he could have been saved. He was playing
well. He did not have any bad habits," the grieving father said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled Kesri's death.
"Saddened,
shocked with the news of young cricketer Ankit's death as a result of
an on-field accident. My condolences and prayers. RIP," Banerjee posted
on Twitter.
Kesri's tragic fate invoked the memories of the
unfortunate death of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes who was fatally
hit by a bouncer during a domestic match on November 25 last year, and
died from the injuries two days later.
Former India cricketer
Raman Lamba also died in a similar way, from injuries sustained during a
cricket match. He was hit by a ball on the temple while fielding in a
Bangladesh league cricket match and died after slipping into coma due to
internal haemorrhage on February 23, 1998.
Indian cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble condoled the death of Kesri.
"Saddened
by the demise of Ankit Kesri. A promising career aborted by an
unfortunate incident on field. May God give strength to Ankit's family
and friends to cope with this loss #RIP," Tendulkar wrote on his social
networking page Twitter.
"Sad news of a young promising cricketer
Ankit losing his life on field of play. May God give strength to loved
ones to bear this loss!," Kumble wrote.
Bollywood superstar Shah
Rukh Khan, who is West Bengal's brand ambassador and co-owner of Indian
Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders, also expressed his
grief.
"Too young to go. Extremely unfortunate and sad.
Condolences and prayers for Ankit Keshri and his family. May Allah bless
his soul. R.I.P," SRK said via Twitter.
"RIP Ankit Keshri. Young
cricketer passes away because of cardiac arrest following on-field
injury," the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) tweet said