Team India mourns Phil Hughes's passing

The Board of Control for Cricket in India, in a statement on Thursday, mourned the death of Australia cricketer Phil Hughes.

“The Indian Cricket Team joins the cricketing fraternity across the world in offering condolences to the family of Phillip Hughes, who has departed from our midst.

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“In this moment of grief, we pray that they (the family) are bestowed with divine strength to overcome this unfortunate tragedy. As fellow cricketers, we cherish the memories of playing with and against him and deeply respect his contribution to the game of cricket,” the release read.

Hughes died in hospital in Sydney on Thursday, two days after the international batsman was struck on the head by a ball during a domestic match.

Hughes was set to replace injured captain Michael Clarke in the Australia team for the first Test against India next week, according to selector Mark Waugh, though debate has raged as to whether the match should go ahead at all.

Sutherland declined to confirm the December 4-8 match in Brisbane, saying Hughes' team mates needed time to grieve.

Hughes's death dominated Australia's major newspapers, with sombre eulogies for the boy raised on a banana plantation whose life ended three days before his 26th birthday.