As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced an enormous Rs. 125 crore reward for the victorious Indian team following their 2024 T20 World Cup win, calls have emerged to fund the treatment of ailing former Indian cricketer and head coach Anshuman Gaekwad. Gaekwad, who coached India during two significant spells in the late 1990s, is currently battling blood cancer at the age of 71, receiving treatment at King’s College Hospital in London.
Former BCCI chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil, a former teammate of Gaekwad, has been the most vocal in urging the BCCI to provide additional support. “Anshuman Gaekwad told me that he has received financial support from the cricket board, but more financial support is needed,” wrote Sandeep Patil in his column for Mid-Day.
Sandeep Patil revealed that he had already discussed the issue with BCCI treasurer Ashish Shelar, and received assurance of support.
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“In this regard, former cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar and I had a conversation with Cricket Board Treasurer Ashish Shelar. We called Ashish Shelar from the car after visiting Anshuman Gaekwad in the hospital,” Sandeep Patil wrote.
In the wake of their decision to reward the T20 World Cup-winning team Rs 125 crore, Sandeep Patil wants the BCCI to extend a big, warm helping hand to his friend and former teammate, Aunshuman Gaekwad in his cancer battle. Piece in today’s @mid_day pic.twitter.com/fZVCs6DeU7
— Clayton J Murzello (@ClaytonMurzello) July 2, 2024
“Ashish Shelar instantly said he would look into ours and other former cricketers’ requests for funds. I’m confident 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 up on priority and treated as paramount,” Sandeep Patil emphasized.
Anshuman Gaekwad played 40 Tests and 15 ODIs for India between 1974 and 1987. Notably, he served as the head coach of India from 1997 to 1999 and again after the infamous match-fixing scandal, leading the team to the runners-up position in the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy (later known as the Champions Trophy).
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In his column, Patil also highlighted that Sachin Tendulkar had been in his best form during Gaekwad’s tenure as head coach. He called for immediate and generous support from the BCCI to help Gaekwad in his battle against cancer.
