Anshuman Gaekwad to receive Rs 1 crore from BCCI for cancer treatment

Anshuman Gaekwad played 40 tests and 15 ODIs for India from 1974 to 1987.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will provide Rs 1 crore immediately to former Indian cricketer Anshuman Gaekwad, who is currently battling cancer.

The 71-year-old Gaekwad has been undergoing treatment at King’s College Hospital in London. Gaekwad is battling with blood cancer. After BCCI secretary Jay Shah instructed the board to help Gaekwad, he also extend support to Gaekwad’s family.

“After approval from the BCCI Apex Council, Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, instructed the Board to release Rs 1 crore with immediate effect to provide financial assistance to Mr Gaekwad,” a BCCI statement said.

“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,” Jay Shah said.

Gaekwad made his international debut in December 1974 against the West Indies. He went on to play 40 tests for Indian cricket team. The right-handed batter scored 1985 runs at an average of 30.07 with two centuries and ten half-centuries.

Sandeep Patil was the first to raise concern about Gaekwad’s health

A few days ago, former cricketer Sandeep Patil was the first person to raise concern about former India cricketer Gaekwad’s health, who is battling cancer.

Patil had urged the BCCI to extend financial support to Gaekwad. Patil’s statement came just after BCCI awarded Rs 125 crores to the Indian cricket team for winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

“Anshu told me that he needs funds for his treatment. Soon, Dilip Vengsarkar and I spoke to BCCI treasurer Ashish Shelar. In fact, our calls were made to Ashish Shelar after seeing Anshu at King’s College Hospital in London. Ashish Shelar instantly said he would look into ours and other former cricketers’ request for funds,” Patil said in a column on Mid-Day.

“I’m sure he will facilitate this and, at the risk of sounding macabre, save Anshu’s life. Any cricketer from any country should be helped by his board, but Anshu’s case must be taken on priority and treated as paramount,” Patil added.

Kapil Dev ready to donate his pension for ailing Gaekwad

India’s World Cup-winning skipper Kapil Dev also requested the BCCI lend financial support to former India coach Gaekwad, who is battling with blood cancer.

The legendary cricketer also revealed that his former teammates Mohinder Amarnath, Sunil Gavaskar, Sandeep Patil, Dilip Vengsarkar, Madan Lal, Ravi Shastri, and Kirti Azad are doing their best to generate funds and help ailing Gaekwad.

The former Indian cricketer also insisted that he is ready to give up his pension if the situation doesn’t improve.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have a system. It is great to see this generation of players make good money. It is good to see the support staff members also being paid well. In our time, the Board did not have the money. Today, it has and should take care of the senior players from the past. But where do they send their contributions? If a Trust is formed, they can put their money there. But we don’t have a system. There should be a Trust. I think BCCI can do that. They do look after the players, former and present. We are ready to contribute by donating our pension amount if the family allows us to,” Kapil Dev said to Sportstar.

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