Sporting heroes play ball, donate

New Delhi, March 29: The Hyderabad Cricket Assocation (HCA) and Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) on Sunday decided that they would donate `50 lakh each to the central government their fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As you are aware that World is going through tough time due to spread of Novel Covid-19 Corona Virus, in connection with it BCCI has asked every associated members to contribute at least `50 lakh towards Prime Minister’s fund. And it will be directly deducted from the annual subsidy granted. The Hyderabad Cricket Association has welcomed the proposal and has decided to contribute the same for the Prime Minister Fund to fight the pandemic,” R. Vijayanand, HCA secretary, said in a press release.

“KSCA through BCCI wish to contribute `50 Lakhs to Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund and `50 Lacs toward CM Karnataka Government State relief fund,” said a KSCA spokesperson.

Besides KSCA, the state associations who have come forward to help include cricket associations of Bengal, Mumbai and Saurashtra.

RAHANE GRANTS `10 LAKH

India’s Test team vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has donated `10 lakh to the Maharastra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the fight against the Covid19 pandemic.

“This is just my tiny bit and a drop in the ocean. Will do my best to support in this difficult time. Meanwhile stay home stay safe,” tweeted Rahane after Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackrey thanked him for his gesture.

TEEN CRICKETER

Sixteen-year-old allrounder Richa Ghosh, who represented India at the Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this month, has donated `1 lakh to the Bengal Chief Minister’s relief fund for the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Richa’s father Manabendra Ghosh went to the Siliguri district magistrate Sumanta Sahay’s residence to hand over the cheque on Saturday, Cricket Association of Bengal said.

“When everybody is fighting Covid-19 and the chief minister has appealed for a united battle against it, I thought of contributing a bit as a responsible citizen of the country,” Richa said.

“66 CAB match observers have pooled in `1.5 lakh, while 82 scorers contributed their day’s pay aggregating to an amount of `77,420,” CAB stated.

Representative of Mohammedan Sporting Club at the CAB, Dipak Singh donated `2 lakh to the Relief Fund.

ESHA

DONATES `30K

Teenaged shooter Esha Singh of Hyderabad on Sunday pledged to donate `30,000 to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund in the fight against the Covid19 pandemic, becoming, at 15, the country’s youngest sportsperson to make a monetary contribution.

“I pledge to contribute `30 thousand from my savings to P.M CARE FUND to Fight Covid-19 Desh hai to hum hai,” the shooting sensation wrote on her Twitter handle. Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju donated his one month salary over and above Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directive to all BJP MPs to contribute `1 crore from MPLAD funds in the country’s fight against Covid-19 pandemic.

PARA CHAMP’S `1 LAKH

Double Asian Para Games high jump champion Sharad Kumar has donated `1 lakh to the Prime Minister’s relief fund for the fight against the Covid19 pandemic.

“I have donated `1 lakhs and one to PM CARE FUND to tackle Covid-19. 1 per cent of my net,” the 29year-old from Bihar tweeted.

RIJIJU

GIVES UP SALARY

“PM Narendra Modi ji announced #PMCares Fund to strengthen disaster management capacities and to encourage research on protecting citizens. It accepts micro-donations too. Let us contribute to make India healthier and more prosperous for our future generations. I’ve donated my one month salary,” Rijiju wrote on his Facebook page. — PTI