Preity Zinta, Priyansh Arya check on fan hurt by six at PBKS-LSG match, pledge helmet
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta and opener Priyansh Arya reached out to Krishan Chand, a 62-year-old spectator injured during the PBKS vs Lucknow Super Giants fixture on 19 April at the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, connecting via video call to check on his recovery and pledging a protective helmet for his next stadium visit.
How the injury occurred
The incident took place in the 4th over when a six struck off Priyansh Arya's bat sailed into the Harbhajan Stand A and struck Chand on the face, causing bleeding. He was immediately attended to at the Spectator Medical Point before being transported via Civil Hospital ambulance to a clinic, where his son — a doctor — accompanied him and he received stitches.
Recovery and franchise response
Chand is in stable condition and progressing toward full recovery. Upon learning of the incident, Preity Zinta and Arya, along with Ashish Tuli, General Manager - Cricket Operations at Punjab Kings, initiated a personal video call to express concern and extend support. During the conversation, they invited Chand to watch a future PBKS match at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala, with Zinta personally promising to have a protective helmet ready for him when he arrives.
Broader context
Fan safety incidents at cricket venues, though rare, underscore the importance of protective measures in stadiums. PBKS has reinforced its commitment to spectator welfare by not only providing medical care but also ensuring the injured fan feels valued and welcomed back to the ground.
PBKS' season momentum
Punjab Kings remain among the tournament's dominant sides, sitting atop the standings with just one loss in eight matches. The franchise will face Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday evening, with Shreyas Iyer leading the charge.