Mumbai: After Kapil Dev and Sandip Patil’s appeals to help an ailing Anshuman Gaekwad, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday decided to release Rs 1 crore for the treatment of former India captain and coach, who is battling blood cancer at a medical facility in London. Gaekwad has been under treatment for the last one year.
“Mr. Jay Shah has instructed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) 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.
Gaekwad, son of former India captain DK Gaekwad, is undergoing treatment for blood cancer at the King’s College Hospital in London. “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 statement continued.
“The BCCI will continue to monitor Mr Gaekwad’s progress and is confident that he will come out of this phase strongly,” it added. The 71-year-old Gaekwad played 40 Tests and 15 ODIs for India between 1975 and 1987. Earlier, Kapil and his other former teammates had vowed to donate their pensions for treatment of Gaekwad.
“We are ready to contribute by donating our pension amount if the family allows us to,” Kapil was quoted as saying to Sportstar. “It is a sad and very depressing. I am in pain because I have played alongside Anshu and can’t bear to see him in this state. No one should suffer. I know the Board will take care of him,” he said.
“We are not compelling anyone. Any help for Anshu will have to come from your heart. He took blows on his face and chest when standing up to some of the ferocious fast bowlers. Now is the time for us to stand up for him. I am sure our cricket fans will not fail him. They should pray for his recovery,” added the 65-year-old.
