Sri Lankan players to pay silent tribute to Phil Hughes
November 28, 2014 10:37 am
Sri Lanka’s cricket players will observe a two minute silence at the start of their next One-day International against England in Colombo on Saturday as a mark of respect for Australian batsman Phillip Hughes.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said national players will also wear black armbands as a sign of mourning when they take the field at the Premadasa stadium, pending approval from officials.
“We await formal clearance from the match referee,” an official with the Sri Lankan board told AFP, asking not to be named.
There was no immediate comment from the England team in Colombo, but Sri Lankan officials said both sides were in discussions to jointly pay their respects to Hughes.
“We share the grief of Phil Hughes’ untimely and tragic death with his family,” SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said in a statement.
Hughes died on Thursday aged 25, two days after being struck on the top of the neck by a ball during a domestic match in Sydney.
Hughes, who also played for Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcestershire, was hit by a delivery from bowler Sean Abbott.
- With AFP inputs