An 18-year-old paceman who harboured aspirations of representing Bangladesh on the international stage has passed away after a tragic battle with leukaemia.
Mehedi Hasan Hriday, a promising young fast bowler who represented the Chittagong Division cricket team, breathed his last at midday on Saturday at the Bangladesh Medical University Hospital in Dhaka. The news of his demise was confirmed to news outlets by his uncle, Mapel Hossain, bringing immense grief to the country’s domestic sporting fraternity.
Hriday’s life took a devastating turn a few months ago when medical evaluations diagnosed him with blood cancer. The illness abruptly sidelined the teenager, forcing him to exchange the cricket pitch for hospital wards. Despite the rapid onset of the disease and the grueling medical treatment that followed, he retained hopes of recovering and returning to competitive cricket.
The financial strain of oncology treatment proved overwhelming for Hriday’s family. As the news of his medical emergency circulated within domestic sporting circles, governing bodies stepped in to support the family during the crisis. Both the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports pledged financial resources to cover the soaring costs of his treatment.
On 2 July, during a formal gathering at the BCB headquarters, the State Minister for Youth and Sports, Aminul Haque, personally handed over a cheque of 500,000 BDT to Hriday’s father. The BCB matched the state’s contribution, providing an additional 500,000 BDT to assist with his medical bills.
Despite the joint intervention of state officials, sports administrators, and specialised medical teams, Hriday’s condition deteriorated in recent days, leading to his untimely death. Tributes have poured in from fellow domestic cricketers, coaches, and administrators across the country. Teammates from Chittagong Division remembered Hriday as a dedicated fast bowler whose career was cut tragically short, while officials extended their condolences to his grieving family.
