Indian legendary captain and World Cup winner Kapil Dev has come out to make an emotional plea to seek the help of the Board of Control for Cricket in India over monetary aid that his fellow friend and former teammate Anshuman Gaekwad is getting at a London hospital for blood cancer treatment.
Moved by Gaekwad’s condition, Kapil Dev expressed his pain over the situation of his coworker. “It is a sad and very depressing situation,” said the former captain in an interview with Sportstar. “I am in pain because I have played alongside Anshu, and seeing him in this state is beyond my endurance to see. No one should suffer like this.”
Confident of the BCCI’s support system, Kapil Dev has urged the latter to come forward and help Gaekwad financially. “I know the Board will take care of him,” he said. “We are not compelling anybody. Whatever help Anshu may get, it will have to be from your heart. We stood up to some of the ferocious fast bowlers in the world and took blows on our face and chest. Now it is time for us to stand up for him. I’m sure our cricket fans will not fail him. They should pray for his recovery.”
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The news came following information by another former Indian cricketer, Sandip Patil, about Gaekwad’s suffering from cancer earlier this year. He has been fighting with the illness since last year, and his treatment is going on in London. Patil had also mentioned that Gaekwad needs some financial help for the same after which he contacted BCCI treasurer Ashish Shelar.
Kapil Dev further pointed out the lack of a system within the BCCI to reach out and help such past players in distress. He does admit that there is much more money to be made in cricket today, compared to when he was playing. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a system,” he said. “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.”
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Kapil Dev even went a step further to express willingness along with other former players to contribute into it. “We are ready to contribute by donating our pension amount if the family allows us to,” he added.
This emotional appeal by Kapil Dev brings to the fore the dire requirement for a strong system that comes forward with the platform to help out those former cricketers who are financially struggling. Many expect the BCCI, rich in funds currently, to heed Dev’s appeal and lend a helping hand to Anshuman Gaekwad in his battle with cancer.
