Lucknow, Sep 6 - A 16-year-old boy was allegedly shot dead Sunday afternoon following a brawl with his friends during a cricket match, police said.

The incident took place in the Gangero village of Muzzafarnagar district, some 500 km from here.

'The deceased, Shamshad, was playing a cricket match with his friends when a brawl broke out between him and three others. One of three then shot him with a country-made pistol and fled from the spot,' A.K. Maurya, deputy superintendent of police, told IANS.

All the accused - Salim, Azharuddin and Sarvar - are also minors. Police are searching for the three who are absconding, he added.