MADURAI: A law graduate has moved a petition in the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) seeking to restrain the Indian cricket team from playing in Australia, in the wake of the recent death of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes on the field.
K Praveen Kumar of Pudukottai stated in his petition that the incident which happened on November 25, had caused grief and shock across the world. Under these circumstances, the Indian team is in Australia to participate in Test, one-day international and T-20 matches, apart from domestic ones.
“The death of the batsman goes to prove that playing cricket is similar to playing with one’s life, especially in the weather and pitch conditions in Australia. Even with all precautions such as headgear, rib pad, abdomen guard, thigh pads, leg pads and gloves, the players are losing their lives. Therefore, the Union Ministry of Sports should rethink before allowing the Indian team to play in Australia,” the petitioner stated.
Citing incidents in which players had lost their lives due to injury on the field, the petitioner stated that though such fatalities were rare, freak incidents such as the recent one had turned into a real-life tragedies on the pitch.
The petitioner also contended that it was the duty of the government to protect the lives of cricketers, and their safety liberty and equality should be guaranteed and protected as per the Constitution of India. He, therefore, sought an interim injunction restraining the Indian team from touring Australia, until total life and limb protection is envisaged by the Ministry of Sports and BCCI.