UAE’s young cricketers saddened by Phil’s death

Young cricketers here in the UAE were shocked by the 25-year-old’s untimely demise after a freak accident.

Abu Dhabi — As the cricketing world, or for that matter, the sports world woke up to the terrible news of Australian batsman Philip Hughes life being snuffed out, young cricketers here in the UAE were shocked by the 25-year-old’s untimely demise after a freak accident.

Hughes was struck by a bouncer from Sean Abbott during a Sheffield Shield game between South Australia and his old team New South Wales in Sydney on Tuesday. The opener failed to regain consciousness despite undergoing a surgery.

As an opener himself, Mohammed Riyan, who was part of the UAE Under-19 team in the ACC Premier League tournament in Kuwait earlier this month, said he was shocked to hear the news and added that it will on the back of his mind when he bats. “I was really shocked. Getting hit on the neck sounds like a normal thing but it can be really dangerous,” Riyan told the Khaleej Times.

Riyan is an attacking opening batsman and despite this incident, he said that he won’t curb his aggressive play but added that it would be on the back of his mind. “I’m not going to be scared about facing a bouncer when I go out to bat but it will be in my mind,” he added.

There have been calls for change in helmet designs after this accident but Riyan felt it was not necessary and said the batsmen need to be more careful now. “Maybe he (Hughes) saw the ball late. I don’t think there should be a change in the helmet design, just that the batsmen should be extra careful now,” said Riyan.

Meanwhile, medium pace all-rounder Yodhin Punja, who too was part of the UAE Under-19s at the ACC tournament, was saddened for Hughes but also felt for the bowler Abbott. “I was just thinking of his family and the bowler Abbott. Abbott was at the hospital and he was in tears. It is a sad moment,” said Yodhin.

“Nothing like this should happen when you are playing a game like this. One can just imagine what the bowler is going through right now,” he added.

As a bowler himself, Yodhin said that this will be fresh in his mind when he goes out to bowl but added that he would continue to bowl bouncers.

“It will come across my mind because you don’t forget something like this. But as a bowler, you wouldn’t want to hurt the batsman. No one’s intention is to hurt the batsman. But bouncers are something that you cannot avoid,” Yodhin said.

Yodhin, who can see the other side of it too as he can bat, said: “In all sports, there are possibilities. One has to try and forget and move on.” Hughes was wearing the old helmet — the Masuri Original Test model — while the manufacturer had launched a new head gear — Masuri Vision Series — with added protection at the back.

And Yodhin was all for added protection. “Helmets should be redesigned but in a way that it should not affect the game. There is much more protection in the new Masuri helmets,” said Yodhin. james@khaleejtimes.com

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On the Twitter

Virat Kohli @imVkohli

Shocked and saddened by the news of Phil Hughes. Horrible day for cricket. RIP Phil and may your family gain the strength to cope.

Adam Gilchrist @gilly381

May those footprints in the sand now support another young man in need. #SeanAbbott

Kevin Pietersen @KP24

Sean Abbott - thinking about you too, mate!

Rohit Sharma @ImRo45

Saddest day in cricket fraternity. Rest in peace mate and Sean Abbott stay strong #PhilHughes

Shane Warne @ShaneWarne

#RIP buddy, #63notout #cricketfamily So sad. Best wishes & condolences to the entire Hughes family.

Matthew Hayden AM @HaydosTweets •

Rest peacefully our little brother...may God hold you in the palm of his hand forever. Deepest sympathies to the Hughes Family and friends

@jpduminy21

May you RIP Hughesey. Words cannot explain one’s feelings right now. Prayers are with his family, friends and Teammates.. #RIPPhilHughes