Press Trust of India
Kolkata, April 20: In another tragic on-field incident after Phillip Hughes’ death last November, promising Bengal batsman Ankit Keshri passed away Monday owing to an injury sustained during a Cricket Association of Bengal’s senior one-day knockout match April 17 between East Bengal and Bhowanipore Club.
Keshri was in hospital for the past three days and was showing signs of recovery till Sunday evening when he was given oral food. However, in the early hours of Monday morning, Keshri suffered a massive cardiac arrest and was put on ventilator before he was declared dead.
The 20-year-old, a talented right-hander, had captained the Bengal U-19 team in the Cooch Behar Trophy and was in the 30-member India U-19 probables list for the 2014 Colts World Cup in the UAE. He also played for Bengal A (U-23 side) in CK Nayudu cricket tournament.
In what can be considered a cruel twist of fate, Keshri was not a part of the playing XI and was the 12th man in the fateful match. He came to field in place of Arnab Nandi, who had taken a break.
“Fielding at sweeper cover, Keshri rushed to take the high catch as left-arm pacer Sourav Mondal too ran on his follow through. It was as freak an accident as possible,” Bengal A coach Jaideep Mukherjee, who was present at the ground said Monday.
After colliding with Mondal, blood spurted out of Ankit’s mouth as he fell unconscious. Former Bengal spinner Shivsagar Singh and batsman Anustup Majumdar rushed to attend him. Shiv Sagar, in fact, tried mouth to mouth resuscitation by giving him CPR (Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation) after which he started breathing again. He was then taken to a private nursing home.
“I am not in a position to speak. I am feeling devastated. His (Ankit’s) body will be brought to East Bengal tent before being taken for last rites,” a distraught CAB joint secretary Subir Ganguly said.
India A captain Manoj Tiwary sounded equally devastated. “I did not want to get this news. A fine young talent who should have played Ranji Trophy in a year or two,” stated Tiwary.
Cricket’s tragic moments
Player Cause Date Place
George Summers Struck on the head by a ball June 29, 1870 Nottingham
Andy Ducat Heart failure while playing July 23, 1942 London
Abdul Aziz Struck on the heart by a ball Jan 17, 1959 Karachi
Wilf Slack Heart attack while batting Jan 15, 1989 Banjul
Ian Folley Eye injury, then heart failure Aug 30, 1993 Whitehaven
Raman Lamba Hit on the head while fielding Feb 20, 1998 Dhaka
Darryn Randall Struck on the head while fielding Oct 27, 2013 Pretoria
Phil Hughes Struck on the neck by a bouncer Nov 27, 2014 Sydney
Ankit Keshari On-field collision while fielding April 20, 2015 Kolkata