Mumbai: Within a day of former India players like Kapil Dev appealing to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to support cancer-stricken Anshuman Gaekwad, the board has responded favourably. An amount of Rs 1 crore will be released for the treatment of former India batter and coach Gaekwad, who is battling blood cancer.
“Mr Jay Shah (secretary) has instructed the Board of Control for Cricket in India to release Rs 1 crore with immediate effect to provide financial assistance to India’s veteran cricketer Mr Anshuman Gaekwad, who is battling cancer,” BCCI apex council said in a statement.
“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 his quick recovery. The BCCI will continue to monitor Mr Gaekwad’s progress and is confident that he will come out of this phase strongly,” the statement added.
India’s first World Cup-winning Kapil and former batsman Sandeep Patil were among those who took the initiative to raise funds for Gaekwad, urging BCCI to provide monetary support. Kapil even said former cricketers were ready to donate their pension money to the family, if needed.
Anshuman, son of former India captain D K Gaekwad, was undergoing treatment at King’s College Hospital in London. There were some unconfirmed reports that he is continuing treatment after returning to Vadodara.
The 71-year-old Gaekwad played 40 Tests and 15 ODIs for India between 1975 and 1987.