Cricket: Sri Lanka to pay silent tribute to Hughes

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 Australia’s Phillip Hughes.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said national players will also wear black armbands as a sign of mourning for Australian when they take the field in the second ODI 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.

The 25-year-old Hughes died in hospital on Thursday of injuries sustained when he was hit by a short-pitched ball in a domestic match on Tuesday in Sydney.

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, friends and team mates, and also with our friends in Cricket Australia,” SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said in a statement.

(AFP)