Jay Shah instructs BCCI to release Rs 1 crore for Anshuman Gaekwad's cancer treatment

BCCI secretary Jay Shah has instructed the board to release Rs 1 crore for the cancer treatment of former India cricketer and head coach Anshuman Gaekwad.

According to an official release from the BCCI, Shah also spoke to members of Gaekwad’s family to take stock of the situation.

“Mr. Jay Shah, 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,” read a statement from the BCCI Apex Council.

“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.

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“The BCCI will continue to monitor Mr Gaekwad’s progress and is confident that he will come out of this phase strongly,” the release further read.

The development comes as a welcome relief for the Indian cricket community, especially for Gaekwad’s former teammates such as Kapil Dev who had been trying to raise funds for the former opening batter’s treatment.

Several members of the 1983 World Cup-winning team were reportedly ready to donate three-months’ worth of the pension that they receive from the BCCI for the cause, and their Whatsapp group had reportedly been abuzz over the past few months, with discussions mainly centred around Gaekwad’s treatment.

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According to The Telegraph, Dev as well as other icons such as Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Sandeep Patil, Dilip Vengsarkar, Mohinder Amarnath and Kirti Azad had also sought the support of the corporate world.

“I am in pain because I have played alongside Anshu and can’t bear to see him in this state,” Dev, who had captained the Indian team to victory in the 1983 World Cup, told Sportstar recently.

Gaekwad, who represented India in 40 Tests and 15 ODIs between 1975 and 1987, had been receiving treatment for blood cancer at the King’s College Hospital in London. After returning from the United Kingdon, he is continuing his treatment in Vadodara.