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Struck On Chest By Ball, 24-Year-Old Sri Lanka-Born Cricketer Dies In UK

Struck On The Chest By Ball, 24-Year-Old Sri Lanka-Born Cricketer Dies In UK
British Tamil League website

A Sri Lanka-born cricketer, Bavalan Pathmanathan, died on Sunday after being hit by a ball on the chest during a British Tamil League Division 3 match in Surrey, UK.

According to reports, Pathmanathan was playing for the Manipay Parish Sports Club (UK) in division three of the British Tamil League, when a ball hit him in the chest.

Pathmanathan was given CPR and an air ambulance was flown into the Litton Dong recreational ground. But, the 24-year-old subsequently died from his injuries.

He was from Jaffna, Sri Lanka, notes the British Tamil League official website.

A Facebook post by Manipay Parish Sports Club said, “Our cricketer Bavalan Pathmanathan is no longer with us. He was hit by the ball on his chest while batting. Our club was totally shock by his death at this young age."

Our cricketer Bavalan Pathmanathan is no longer with us. He was hit by the ball on his chest while batting. our club was totally shock by his death at this young age.

Posted by ManipayParish SportsClubuk on Sunday, 5 July 2015

Pathmanathan's teammate, who was also batting at the time, told the Colombo Mirror: "When he received the hit I asked from the other end if he is alright. He gave a thumb-up and nodded to indicate he was alright, while pressing his chest. He took a couple of steps behind the stumps and collapsed."

"He was such a talented and composed cricketer and a darling friend of all of us. Every one of us is going through terrible pain as a result of this terrible loss," he said.

Last year in November, former Australia international Phillip Hughes died after being struck in the neck by a bouncer during a match. Pathmanathan's death brings back the question of batsmen's safety on the field once again.

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