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Often hailed as the “gentleman’s game”, cricket has also witnessed some of the most doomed moments in the history of the sport, including the tragic death of legendary cricketers while playing on the field, which still continues to trigger heart-wrenching pain among hardcore fans even today after decades. Although injuries are considered one of the most common occurrences on the cricket field, some of the fatal injuries have marked a dreadful end for some of the most prominent international cricketers.
4 unfortunate cricketers who lost their lives on the cricket field while playing
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Phillip Hughes – Australia
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In our list of the top four most unfortunate cricketers who lost their lives on the cricket field while playing, we have Australian cricketer, Phillip Hughes, who passed away at the young age of twenty-five when a terrible bouncer delivery from Sean Abbott struck Hughes on his head below the helmet, causing cerebral hemorrhage.
The Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground took an unprecedented twist when Hughes, batting at 63* runs, was struck by the ball at blistering speed just below his left ear. Phillip Hughes instantly collapsed on the field and was immediately rushed to St. Vincent Hospital. Phillip Hughes battled the gruesome injuries and coma for a brief period of two days before breathing his last on 27 November 2014.
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Richard Beaumont – England
One of the finest English club cricketers of the Pedmore Cricket Club, Richard Beaumont, is second on our list of the top four most unfortunate cricketers who lost their lives on the cricket field while playing. Moments after Richard Beaumont annihilated his opposition team, Astwood Bank Cricket Club, with an impressive five-wicket haul, he suffered a major heart attack and immediately collapsed on the cricket pitch.
Although Richard Beaumont was immediately rushed to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital via air ambulance, he was declared dead by the doctors shortly after arriving at the hospital, leaving all his fans and family in a state of disbelief and despair. Richard Beaumont was only thirty-three when he breathed his last on 5th August 2012.
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Raman Lamba – India
The dreamy boy from Meerut, India is third on our list of the top four most unfortunate cricketers who lost their lives on the cricket field. Often hailed as one of the most fit and supremely talented Indian cricketers of his era, Raman Lamba made the mistake of not wearing a helmet, which turned out to be the biggest blunder of his life.
The Indian batsman suffered a major blow to his temple when a pace delivery from Bangladesh’s left-arm spinner Saifullah Khan struck him hard. Raman Lamba lost his balance seconds after the collision and collapsed on the ground. Raman Lamba was diagnosed with severe internal hemorrhage, and he was declared dead within three days of the unfortunate incident on 23 February 1998 that took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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Zulfiqar Bhatti – Pakistan
Another club cricketer with immense potential to create a mark for himself in the world of international cricket, Pakistan’s Zulfiqar Bhatti, passed away in a tragic accident on the cricket field. The rising batsman from Super Star Cricket Club was batting against the Sindh Young Cricket Club when he was struck by a whacking pace delivery straight at his chest.
Even before the twenty-two-year-old Pakistani club cricketer, Zulfiqar Bhatti could ask for medical assistance, he collapsed on the cricket pitch and was declared dead shortly after arriving at the nearby hospital in Sukkur.
As a tribute to his cricketing excellence at such a young age, the local cricket administration announced a halt to all cricketing events and activities in Sukkur for two days after his tragic death on 19 December 2013. After the unfortunate demise of a young and extremely promising cricketer, his father revealed that Bhatti’s ultimate dream was to play cricket for the national cricket team of Pakistan.
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