ISLAMABAD - A simple but remarkable ceremony was held here at Diamond Cricket Ground to pay homage to Australian cricketer Philip Hughes, who passed away after succumbing to neck injury he sustained after hit by Sean Abbott in a domestic match.
Islamabad region president Shakil Sheikh, Test cricketer Kamran Akmal, Nasir Jamshed, Hammad Azam, Raza Hasan, Sami Aslam, Umar Waheed, Rawalpindi Islamabad Sports Journalists Association (RISJA) president Mohsin Ali, Shakir Abbasi, Syed Sammer Abbas, Neelum, Rana Tanveer Javed, Arif Mehmood, other notables and cricket players were gathered there and observed some minutes silence to pay homage to the departed soul.
They offered condolences to Cricket Australia and Hughes family and prayed the Almighty top rest the departed soul in eternal peace.
Talking to The Nation, Shakil Sheikh said: “It’s a sad day for world cricket, and I sympathies with the family of the diseased. It was an unfortunate incident and bowler Sean Abbott should not be held entirely responsible for the sad incident.”
Sharing his views, Kamran Akmal said: “It was a tragic incident and when I recall the incident, tears pour out from my eyes. He was a great human being and a superb cricketer. It is quite astonishing that he had worn helmet when struck in the neck, the helmet secured face and head, but neck and other parts exposed. There is an urgent need for ICC to order change in helmet design to avoid such incidents in future.”Kamran emphasized on the young cricketers to remain more careful and always wear helmet while batting, as they don’t much care about adopting safety measures in practice sessions especially. Preemptive measures must be taken to avoid such incidents in future,” Kamran concluded.