The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that it will be releasing INR 1 crore immediately to provide financial assistance to former Indian cricketer Anshuman Gaekwad, who is currently battling blood cancer.
Who is Anshuman Gaekwad?
Anshuman Gaekwad is a former Indian cricketer who played 40 Test matches and 15 ODIs for the national team between 1975 and 1987. He scored 1,985 runs in Test cricket with two centuries and 10 half-centuries, and 269 runs in ODIs with one fifty.
After his playing career, Gaekwad also served as the head coach of the Indian national team. The 71-year-old is currently undergoing treatment for blood cancer at the King’s College Hospital in London.
Gaekwad scored 201 runs against Pakistan in 1982-83, which was one of the slowest double-centuries in first-class cricket at the time. He batted for an impressive 671 minutes, showcasing his patience and concentration.
Why is BCCI Providing Financial Assistance?
The decision to provide financial assistance to Gaekwad came after emotional appeals from his former teammates, including Kapil Dev, Sandip Patil, and Dilip Vengsarkar.
Patil had earlier revealed that Gaekwad himself had informed him about the need for financial support to cover the expenses of his cancer treatment in London. Kapil Dev also urged the BCCI to help Gaekwad, stating that the board, being the richest cricket governing body in the world, should take care of former cricketers.
In response, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah personally spoke to Gaekwad’s family and instructed the board to release INR 1 crore immediately to provide financial assistance for his treatment.
The BCCI statement said, “Shah has also spoken to Mr Gaekwad’s family to take stock of the situation and extend support. The board stands by Gaekwad’s family in this hour of crisis and will do whatever is essential for Mr Gaekwad’s quick recovery. The BCCI will continue to monitor Mr Gaekwad’s progress and is confident that he will come out of this phase strongly.”
This gesture from the BCCI has been widely appreciated, as it showcases the board’s commitment to supporting former cricketers in times of need. The financial assistance will undoubtedly help Gaekwad and his family during this difficult period as he battles cancer.
