(N/A) According to Newton's Second Law of Motion,the force $F$ exerted on the hands is given by $F = \frac{\Delta p}{\Delta t}$,where $\Delta p$ is the change in momentum and $\Delta t$ is the time taken to bring the ball to rest.
When a seasoned cricketer catches the ball,they pull their hands backward. By doing this,they increase the time interval $\Delta t$ during which the ball's momentum is reduced to zero.
Since $F$ is inversely proportional to $\Delta t$ $(F \propto \frac{1}{\Delta t})$,increasing the time $\Delta t$ significantly reduces the impulsive force $F$ exerted on the hands,preventing injury.
Conversely,a novice keeps their hands fixed,resulting in a very small $\Delta t$. This leads to a large impulsive force $F$,which can cause injury to the hands.