Hospitalised Australian cricketer Damien Martyn progressing well: Report
Brisbane (PTI): Former Australia cricketer Damien Martyn, who was diagnosed with meningitis and admitted in a Gold Coast hospital recently, is on the path of recovery, according to a report quoting his family.
The 54-year-old former right-handed batter, who played 67 Tests, was reported to be in an induced coma following a bout of meningitis.
In its first statement following his hospitalisation, the cricketer's family has said "Damien is progressing well," according to Herald Sun Sport.
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"Damien Martyn's family has expressed its 'deepest appreciation' to staff at Gold Coast University Hopsital in their first public statement since the cricket great was hospitalised with meningitis," the report added.
Born in Darwin, the cricketer made his Test debut at 21, replacing Dean Jones in the 1992-93 home series against the West Indies.
He scored his highest total of 165 against New Zealand in 2005, one of his 13 Test tons.
He played his last Test at the Adelaide Oval in the 2006-07 Ashes series before moving into commentary work.
Martyn also played 208 ODIs, averaging 40.8. He was part of Australia's squad that won the 1999 and 2003 World Cups, scoring an unbeaten 88 in the final against India in 2003 while batting with a broken finger.
He was also a member of the 2006 Champions Trophy winning squad.
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Ramzan fasts to begin in India from Thursday
New Delhi (PTI): Ramzan fasts will begin on Thursday in India as the crescent moon marking the start of the fasting month was sighted in various parts of the country on Wednesday.
After the sighting of the moon, the holy month begins and for the next 30 days, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.
Shahi Imam of Chandni Chowk's Fatehpuri mosque Maulana Mufti Mukarram Ahmed announced that the crescent moon was sighted and the month of fasting will start from February 19.
Naib Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Shaban Bukhari also declared that the moon was sighted.
During this month, a special prayer called Taraweeh are offered in mosques in the evening. In this prayer, the entire Quran is recited and it continues till the sighting of the Eid moon.
Mufti Mukarram has appealed to the Muslim community to "pray as much as possible for the well-being of the 140 crore people of the country".
