Sport - Cricket

Under-19 cricketer dies of on-field injury

SRIKAKULAM, JULY 31. In a tragic incident, the first of its kind reported from Andhra, a player taking part in the ACA North Zone under-19 inter-District tournament died after being hit on the chest by the ball in a match at the Government Arts College here on Saturday.

Eighteen-year-old Ch. Dileep Kumar — a junior intermediate student of Nalanda College in Kakinada, was batting for East Bengal against Vizianagaram when he was hit on the chest by a rising delivery. According to eyewitnesses, he stepped away from the crease and, after a few moments, collapsed. He was given artificial resuscitation and water before being rushed to the Government hospital, but died on the way.

Describing the incident as very unfortunate, M. Venkata Nagesh, the manager and coach of the East Godavari team, said Dileep Kumar was a promising player and seemed likely to be selected. As an opening batsman, Dileep had been a consistent scorer and had even played in the under 22 districts tournament recently, he revealed.

The secretary of the ACA's North Zone, P.R. Narayanaswami, said this was for the first time in the history of Andhra cricket that a death had occurred on a cricket field. The North Zone secretary also announced that the tournament had been called off.

Meanwhile, ACA president, K.V. Rao, and secretary, N. Venkata Rao, condoled the death of the young player through a press note. Mr. K.V. Rao is also likely to announce a suitable ex gratia amount for the player's family, the note added.

The Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association also condoled the death of Dilip Kumar at a meeting and conveyed its condolences to his family and to the EGDCA.

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