Former India mercurial opener Virender Sehwag has said that banning bouncers following Australia's Phillip Hughes' passing would be unfair on bowlers because he believes batsmen always have the option of ducking under short-pitched deliveries.

Hughes, who would have turned 26 at the weekend, passed away last Thursday aged 25 after succumbing to an injury he suffered from a bouncer that struck him on the back of the head during a domestic match, triggering a huge outpouring of grief in Australia and around the world.

Restricting Sehwag in full flow has been a very difficult task for bowlers over the years but the 36-year-old, who has scored two triple centuries in Tests and also held the record for the fastest triple century in the history of international cricket, 300 off 278 balls, feels that there should be no clampdown on bouncers, Sport24 reported.

Sehwag said that it was very sad that Hughes passed away in such a way, but claimed that it's part of cricket and injuries are part of any sport. The cricketer was speaking at a promotional event to mark next year's 50-over World Cup.

He said that one has an option to duck bouncers as a batsman, adding that if one cuts out the bouncers, then there is no fun left in the game and it's already a batsman's game.

Sehwag claimed that he has been hit on the helmet by quite a few bouncers, but believes that the delivery is a weapon for the bowlers so they should not be robbed off it.

The flamboyant right-hander, who last played for India against Australia in a Test match in March 2013, was an integral part of the country's World Cup-winning team in 2011 on home soil.

Sehwag has not given up hope of playing in next year's tournament in Australia and New Zealand and believes that India have the strength to defend the trophy, the report added.

(dna)