MUMBAI: A 52-year-old man who was fielding during a cricket match at Dadkar Maidan in Matunga died after a ball that flew in from an adjacent pitch struck him on the head on Monday afternoon.
An eyewitness said Jayesh Sawala was fielding with his back facing a batsman at the adjacent Dadar Parsi Colony Sporting Club ground, when a ball hit him on the back, behind his ear. “He fell down and was rushed to hospital, where he was declared dead.”
Both matches were being played for the Kutchhi Visa Oswal Vikas Legend Cup, a T20 tournament for those aged 50 and above. Two or more cricket matches taking place at the same ground is a common feature in the space-starved city. While injuries to players during these matches have been reported before, this is perhaps the first time that a fatality has taken place.
Police said they filed an accidental death report. They ordered an autopsy but suspect no foul play. The body was later handed over to the family. The medical officer at Lion Tarachand Hospital said Sawala was brought dead around 5pm.
An eyewitness said Jayesh Sawala was fielding with his back facing a batsman at the adjacent Dadar Parsi Colony Sporting Club ground, when a ball hit him on the back, behind his ear. “He fell down and was rushed to hospital, where he was declared dead.”
Both matches were being played for the Kutchhi Visa Oswal Vikas Legend Cup, a T20 tournament for those aged 50 and above. Two or more cricket matches taking place at the same ground is a common feature in the space-starved city. While injuries to players during these matches have been reported before, this is perhaps the first time that a fatality has taken place.
Police said they filed an accidental death report. They ordered an autopsy but suspect no foul play. The body was later handed over to the family. The medical officer at Lion Tarachand Hospital said Sawala was brought dead around 5pm.