Mumbai: Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) President Sharad Pawar on Friday expressed his grief at the demise of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes, who met tragic end after succumbing to fatal head injury.
"In a very long time, there wasn't any history of any such injuries on the ground. It's a very sad thing for the cricketing fraternity as we have lost an upcoming and talented player and it has come as a shock to all cricket lovers like us," Pawar, a former BCCI and ICC President, said at the MCA Annual Awards function, here Friday.
The 25-year-old cricketer, who was in contention for a Test recall for the coming series against India, died at the St Vincent's Hospital yesterday, where he was battling for life after being hit on the head by a bouncer from Sean Abbott in a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
MCA vice-president Ravi Savant urged youngsters to focus on playing cricket and not dwell on that incident.
"Youngsters should remember it was a freak accident. Since yesterday, I have received a lot of calls from parents saying we should avoid such accidents. I said this can't be avoided and it is a freak accident and youngsters should continue to play cricket," Savant said saying that former great players from Mumbai had faced fierce bowlers without helmets.
Savant, the BCCI vice-president said cricket was getting affected due indiscipline such as spot-fixing and betting.
"In a time (when) cricket is going through sordid incidents like spot-fixing and betting, the matter is sub-judice in Supreme Court, so it is not proper for us to say anything on that but the cricket is suffering from indiscipline.
"We in Mumbai have decided that we will not tolerate any indiscipline in cricket. We will deal with it and that's a promise," he said.
