Mumbai (Maharashtra): Mumbai's rising sensation Musheer Khan, younger brother of India cricketer Sarfaraz Khan, has sustained a neck injury in a road accident.
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) will not name a replacement for injured Musheer Khan, who is set to miss the prestigious ZR Irani Cup tie against the Rest of India, which will be played in Lucknow. A senior MCA official confirmed this development to ETV Bharat.
Later in the day, MCA released a statement which stated, "Musheer Khan, a 19-year-old top-order batter and left-arm spinner, met with a road accident on Friday, 27th September 2024, while travelling with his family from Azamgarh to Lucknow to participate in the upcoming ZR Irani Cup, scheduled from 1st to 5th October 2024."
"Musheer is currently admitted to a hospital in Lucknow, where he remains 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 statement added.
"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," it further added.
A former top MCA office bearer told ETV Bharat on conditions of anonymity that Musheer's action of not travelling with the team should be treated as "indiscipline."
"Nowadays, all facilities to age group players are provided by the state associations like five-star hotels stay, travel by flight. If a player travels on his own without the permission of the respective state association, he should be penalized. Why single out Musheer, it should be applicable for all the players, There was a time when state association players had to spend their own money, but now the scenario has drastically changed." added the official who has been a manager of Mumbai teams.
Another former top MCA office bearer told ETV Bharat that usually the practice is that the concerned player seeks permission from the team management who in turn writes to the association's secretary.
"It is the secretary who denies or gives permission in such cases. In this case, the BCCI may ask the MCA why Musheer was allowed to travel alone. Here, the MCA will have to answer to the BCCI," the former senior official explained.
'During my tenure, when I was the manager of the Mumbai team I used to write the secretary or call the secretary to seek his permission for any matters related to the players including their fitness. This is the standard procedure which is usually followed by domestic teams. The onus lies on the state association and not on the BCCI" he elaborated.
Earlier the Mumbai Cricket Association had named Musheer in the squad for the Irani Cup. The mishap took place while the duo were on their way to Lucknow for the Irani Cup tie. Musheer and his father and coach Naushad Khan were injured in a road accident in Uttar Pradesh.
Now in Musheer's absence, it is likely that Mumbai will open with flamboyant batter Prithvi Shaw and Hardik Tamore. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane will most likely play in the middle order. The Irani Cup tie will be played between Mumbai, who have won the Ranji Trophy for a record 42 times and the Rest of India at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.
For the record, Musheer has amassed 716 runs from 9 first-class matches in his nascent career. Originally from Uttar Pradesh, Musheer who resides in the suburban Kurla area, plays for domestic giants Mumbai.
