Akshu Fernando
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Merennage Akshu Prihan Fernando | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 11 March 1991 Panadura, Ceylon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 30 December 2025 (aged 34) Colombo, Sri Lanka | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right arm Offbreak | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | All-rounder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Colts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008/2012–2016 | Panadura | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017/18 | Ragama | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | Sri Lanka Under-19s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 1 January 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Merennage Akshu Prihan Fernando (11 March 1991 – 30 December 2025) was a Sri Lankan cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler who played for Panadura Sports Club. He was born in Panadura.[1]
Career
Fernando made his cricketing debut in the 2008 Under-23 Tournament for Panadura, and also played in the 2009 competition. In 2010, he was selected to the 2010 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. In the match against Canada, he scored a rapid 43 from 25 balls, where Sri Lanka U-19s scored 276/6 and eventually won the match by 134 runs.[2] Sri Lanka reached the semi finals in the tournament, where they played the semi final against Australia U-19s. However in a losing cause, Akshu made well compiling 52 off 88.[3]
Fernando's List A debut came in the 2009–10 Premier Limited Overs Tournament competition, against Sri Lanka Air Force, scoring 5 runs.[1] He featured in 39 first-class cricket matches representing Panadura and Ragama CC. His first-class hundred for Ragama Cricket Club came weeks before the train collision.[4]
Accident and death
On 28 December 2018, Akshu Fernando was critically injured and was admitted to the hospital after being hit by a train following training session with his teammates at Mount Lavinia.[5] The incident happened when he attempted to cross the railway track from the opposite direction after the first train passed by on the parallel track.[6]
After been in a coma for seven years, Fernando died on 30 December 2025 at the age of 34.[7]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Akshu Fernando". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ^ "Usman Qadir sets up Pakistan victory". espncricinfo.com. 31 December 2025. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ^ "Marsh helps Australia sneak into World Cup final". espncricinfo.com. 31 December 2025. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ^ "Former SL Under-19 player Akshu Fernando dies after being in coma for years". espncricinfo.com. 31 December 2025. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ^ Drysdale, Neil. "Aberdeenshire CC professional injured in train crash in Sri Lanka". Press and Journal. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- ^ "Ex-Sri Lanka cricketer in rail tragedy". Sunday Observer. 29 December 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- ^ "Former Sri Lanka U-19 cricketer Akshu Fernando passes away". Daily Mirror. 30 December 2025. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
External links
- Askhu Fernando at Cricket Archive