Man moves High Court to prevent India from playing Australia after Phillip Hughes' tragedy

Phillip Hughes

In the wake of the Phil Hughes tragedy, a man filed a petition in the Madras High Court today restraining the Indian team from continuing its tour of Australia. He said that the pitches down under are bouncy and players face a threat to their lives.

The petition will come up for hearing before the bench next week. The man who filed the petition, K Praveen Kumar of Pudukottai district said four cricketers have died since 1870 after being hit by a cricket ball.

The doctor who attended on Hughes had said the injury he suffered was catastrophic.Despite extensive surgery the cricketer had died, Kumar said, bowlers now use various techniques to outwit batsmen.

The safety of cricketers should be guaranteed by the Constitution: Kumar

Suresh Raina during a training session in Australia

The death of Hughes had rekindled the debate on risks to head and brain injuries. Though cricketers wear helmets, they get injured.

There had also been questions raised about bouncers. But commentators say it was part of the game.

The Indian team should not continue the tour until and unless total protection was given to the players, is Kumar’s opinion on the matter.

He also sought a direction from the court to the Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs and Sports to take over BCCI management and ensure effective and trustworthy conduct of national and international cricket matches in the interest of the public.

Kumar opined that it was government's duty to protect the lives of cricketers also, adding their safety, liberty and equality should be guaranteed according to the Constitution.

Considering the players’ safety, he also sought a direction from the court to BCCI to not proceed with cricketing fixtures.