Musheer Khan stable after road accident but set to miss Irani Cup, initial Ranji games
Lucknow, Sep 28: Mumbai all-rounder Musheer Khan, younger brother of India batter Sarfaraz, is "stable" after suffering a road accident on the outskirts of Lucknow but is set to miss cricketing action for a prolonged period starting with the upcoming Irani Cup.
The 19-year-old is expected to be out of action for at least three months due to neck injuries he sustained in the accident, effectively ruling him out of Mumbai's matches at the start of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season, starting from October 11.
It is learnt that Musheer was en route to Lucknow from Azamgarh, his hometown, for the Irani Cup beginning on October 1. He was accompanied by his father Naushad Khan, who also suffered minor scratches in the accident that took place on the Purvanchal Expressway after his car hit a divider and overturned.
Dr. Bhola Singh, Medical Superintendent at Medanta Hospital, Lucknow, said in a statement that the cricketer is out of danger.
"Cricketer Musheer Khan, injured in a road accident on the Purvanchal Expressway, was brought to the emergency department of Medanta Hospital due to pain in his neck. His treatment is being conducted under the supervision of Dr. Dharmendra Singh, Director of the Department of Orthopedics.
"His condition is stable and he is out of danger," Dr. Singh said in the statement.
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) said Musheer is currently "stable, conscious, and well-oriented".
"He has sustained a fracture in the neck region and is under close observation. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) medical teams are closely monitoring his progress to ensure he receives the best possible care," the MCA secretary Abhay Hadap said in a release.
"Once Musheer is deemed medically fit for travel, he will be flown to Mumbai for further evaluation and additional medical treatment. The timeline for his recovery will be determined following these assessments," he added.
The development comes as a blow for the teenager who has already scored three centuries and a half-century in nine First-Class games. He had a double hundred in last season's Ranji Trophy quarter-final, a half-century in the semi-final and a match-winning century in the final against Vidarbha.
He had also begun the 2024-25 domestic season with a hundred in the Duleep Trophy for India B against India A in Bengaluru recently.
Reigning Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai are slated to take on Rest of India in the Irani Cup match at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium here from October 1-5.
After the Irani game, Mumbai will begin their Ranji campaign on October 11 against Baroda.
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Cubbon Reads' Secret Santa event disrupted by Cubbon Park authorities over permission issues
Bengaluru: The ‘Secret Santa’ event organised by the silent reading group Cubbon Reads in Bengaluru’s Cubbon Park was abruptly halted on Saturday afternoon after park authorities confiscated a large number of books and detained event curators. The disruption occurred when the event attracted a significantly larger crowd than the organisers had anticipated.
The Secret Santa event involved attendees bringing wrapped books, which were then randomly re-distributed based on a numbered chit. Following the confiscation, the group took to social media to express their frustration, saying, “We really hope they give the books back as it was merely a gift… we were not doing it for any commercial reason.”
While the authorities claim that over 1,000 people attended, the group maintains that the turnout was around 500, acknowledging that they had not expected such a big turnout.
Kusuma G, Deputy Director of Horticulture at Cubbon Park, told Deccan Herald that any gathering of more than 20 people at the park requires prior permission from the department, which Cubbon Reads had not obtained. She explained that to hold events, a fee of Rs 30,000 and a security deposit of Rs 20,000 are required, regardless of whether the event is free or non-commercial. She further clarified that while events like marathons, walkathons, yoga sessions, and book readings are permitted, religious activities are not allowed in the park.
In a another statement, Cubbon Reads alleged that the curators were detained for two hours and had to contact senior officials to leave along with the confiscated books. The group claimed they were also required to write an apology letter. They accused Cubbon Park authorities of threatening their curators' careers and demeaning those who did not speak Kannada. Additionally, the group was allegedly threatened with an FIR and a fine of Rs 35,000.
One of the event curators told DH that they were asked to unwrap a book, as the authorities suspected it contained unlawful things. The curator suggested that the issue seemed to stem from a broader discomfort with young people, rather than the event itself.
Another curator claimed that the authorities’ tone and behaviour changed after a lawyer intervened and contacted a top-level officer. The confiscated books were eventually returned.
