Sunny, Kapil lead way with ICA aid
New Delhi, May 2: Greats likes Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev have pledged their support to Indian Cricketers Association’s (ICA) initiative to financially help around 30 needy players amid the nationwide lockdown, said its president Ashok Malhotra.
The ICA has so far raised
`39 lakh to help former cricketers who are in dire need of funds.
“Big names like Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Gautam Gambhir and Gundappa Viswanath have joined us and that is a major boost to our initiative. A corporate from Gujarat has also offered its support,” Malhotra said.
It has been learnt that likes of Gavaskar, Dev and Gambhir have also made financial contributions to the cause. Mohammad Azharuddin had pledged his financial support earlier this week.
The ICA will continue to accept donations till May
15, following which it will shortlist 5-6 cricketers from each zone (north, east, west, south and central).
“Cricketers who don’t have jobs, who don’t get pension from the BCCI or their respective state associations will be offered help,” Malhotra had said earlier.
The ICA has contributed
`10 lakh to the initiative. As many as 1,750 former cricketers are registered with the ICA, India's firstever players’ association which came into being last year.
The ICA had received an initial grant of `2 crore from the BCCI in February to kick-start its operations.
● The Indian Cricket Association (ICA) along with the help from Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Gundappa Viswanath and Gautam Gambhir have so far raised
`39 lakh to help former cricketers who are in dire need of funds.
GIBBS TO AUCTION SPECIAL BAT
Former South Africa opener Herschelle Gibbs has decided to auction his bat, with which he scored a match-winning 175 in the world record ODI chase against Australia in 2006, to raise funds for the fight against Covid-19 in his country.
South Africa had chased down Australia’s mammoth 434 for four with one ball and one wicket remaining in the series deciding fifth ODI.
“Supersport showing the #438 game . The bat I used that day will be up for auction to raise funds for covid. Kept it all these years,” Gibbs tweeted.
In his 111-ball blitzkrieg, Gibbs smashed 21 fours and seven sixes. The now
46-year-old played 90 Tests,
248 ODIs and 23 T20 Internationals.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting was the other century-maker in the game with 164 off 105 balls.
KIWI NICHOLLS SET TO DONATE WC FINAL JERSEY New Zealand batsman Henry Nicholls has decided to donate the shirt he wore in the World Cup final last year to help the families impacted by the Covid19 pandemic. Nicholls will be donating the jersey to Unicef New Zealand.
“NZ Cricketer
@HenryNicholls27 Cricket bat and ballhas offered up one of his prized 2019 Cricket World Cup jerseys, signed by the whole team! One lucky donor who has supported our #FoodForKiwiFamilies appeal will receive it. You've got to be in it, to win it so donate now!” Unicef tweeted.
The black coloured shortsleeved jersey, which Nicholls wore during the summit clash at the Lord’s where England defeated New Zealand in the nervewracking final.
“Since the start of lockdown, it’s more than tripled the demand for food parcels throughout New Zealand,” Nicholls told Stuff.co.nz.
“That was something that really sparked my interest and from my point of view, everything that happened at the World Cup last year, that’s a pretty memorable experience,” he added.
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