The Kolkata Knight Riders team management has shown a noble gesture by including the deceased young cricketer, Ankit Keshri as the 16th member of the squad for their match against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday at the Eden Gardens.
A cheque of Rs. 10 Lakhs was awarded to the family of Ankit Keshri today. The CEO and MD of Kolkata Knight Riders said that they are happy to organize such a gesture and it would be a small way to remember Ankit and of the premature way by which he faced death on the cricket field.
The Cricket Association of Bengal also displayed a portrait of Ankit with “Ankit Forever” written on it.
Earlier, the former captain of the Indian team, Sourav Ganguly has decided to give away his pension from BCCI for the year to Ankit’s family. Ankit has been the former captain of Bengal Under-19 team.
The 20 year old young cricketer passed away while colliding with another player, named Sourav Mandal during the final of CAB senior one-day knockout match against Bhowanipore SC on April 17th. And the further tragic part of the story is Ankit was not even in the playing XI and was fielding as a substitute of another fielder.
Ankit was battling his life at the hospital for three days but on the morning of 20th April, he gave up the battle of his life and passed away as a result of a cardiac arrest.
Ankit was indeed a talented right handed batsman. He captained Bengal in the Under 19 Cooch Bihar trophy was also in the 30 probable list of players for the Under 19 World Cup which was played in the United Arab Emirates in the last year.
He was also playing for Bengal A (U-23 side) in CK Nayudu national Championship.
May his soul rest in peace.