Bangladeshi boy dies after being hit by cricket ball

DHAKA: A Bangladeshi teenager died in hospital in Dhaka after he was hit by a ball while umpiring a cricket match, police said on Saturday.

Rafiqul Islam, 17, was declared dead at Dhaka Medical College Hospital late Friday after being rushed there in critical condition following the incident at Balur Math ground in Bangladesh’s capital.

“A group of youths were playing cricket in the field and the boy was the umpire. He collapsed on the field after a ball hit him in the chest,” local police chief Enamul Haque told a wire service.

“He is from a very poor family. His father is a rickshaw-puller and mother works as a housemaid. They buried him last night,” he said.

Hughes, who played 26 Tests, died from bleeding on the brain in November 2014 after being hit on the base of the skull by a ball during a domestic match in Sydney.

His death stunned Australia and the world cricket community, sparking an outpouring of grief and intensifying a focus on player safety. – Agencies

In August this year, Pakistani cricketer, an opening batsman, Zubair Ahmed died after being hit by a bouncer during a game in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had shared the news on twitter stating, “Tragic death of Zubair Ahmed is another reminder that safety gear i.e. helmet must be worn at all times. Our sympathies with Zubair’s family”.

Zubair was part of Fakhar Zaman’s academy. Noted commentator and former Australian player Dean Jones expressed condolences via twitter.

Tragic death of Zubair Ahmed is another reminder that safety gear i.e. helmet must be worn at all times. Our sympathies with Zubair’s family pic.twitter.com/ZNmWDYaT5w

— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) August 16, 2017

The incidence was a stark reminder of dangers facing cricketers despite the protective gears. The PCB tweet also indicateed that Zubair, at the time of the incident, was not wearing a helmet.