KKR names Keshri as 16th member; to give his family Rs 10 lakh

Champions Kolkata Knight Riders paid tribute to deceased cricketer Ankit Keshri by naming him as the 16th member of their side for their rain-hit Indian Premier League match against Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens, in Kolkata, on Sunday.

The home side will also hand over a cheque of Rs 10 lakh to Keshri's family at the post match presentation.

The match between KKR and Royals was washed out because of heavy rain in Kolkata without a ball being bowled.

"We're too happy to do so and it's an opportunity for KKR in a small way to remember Ankit and the premature end he faced," CEO and MD of Kolkata Knight Riders Sports Private Ltd said in a letter to the Cricket Association of Bengal.

The CAB also displayed a portrait of Keshri with a caption -- 'Ankit Forever' -- all over the stadium.

Earlier, former India captain Sourav Ganguly had decided to give away his BCCI pension for this year to the deceased former Under-19 Bengal captain's family.

In another tragic on-field incident after Phillip Hughes' death last November, the East Bengal cricketer Keshri passed away three days after sustaining a head injury during a CAB senior one-day knock-out match against Bhowanipore SC on April 17.

Keshri was in hospital for three days and was showing signs of recovery but died on April 20 early morning after a massive cardiac arrest.

The 20-year-old, a talented right-hander, had captained the Bengal Under-19 team in Cooch Behar Trophy and was in the 30-member India Under-19 probables list for the 2014 Colts World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Photograph: BCCI