BCCI SHOULD 'SAVE' FORMER INDIA COACH ANSHUMAN GAEKWAD'S LIFE: SANDEEP PATIL
Batting great Sandeep Patil has lauded the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for awarding prize money of Rs 125 crore to the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team after their historic title win in the T20 World Cup 2024. Patil has also urged the board to extend similar financial assistance to former player and coach Anshuman Gaekwad, who has been battling blood cancer for the past year. Patil recently visited the 71-year-old Gaekwad at the King's College Hospital in London where the former India coach informed him of his dire need for funds to continue his treatment. Patil emphasized the importance of supporting Gaekwad during this difficult time, given his contributions to Indian cricket.
"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."
Gaekwad's cricket career spanned from 1975 to 1987, during which he played 40 Tests and 15 ODIs for India. Gaekwad later took on the role of India's head coach twice, first from 1997 to 1999 and then again in 2000, and his first stint coincided with a crucial period of transition in Indian cricket under the captaincy of Sachin Tendulkar. Anshuman Gaekwad was the coach when Anil Kumble achieved the historic feat of taking 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan. Under Gaekwad's leadership, India secured a 2-1 home series win against Australia and drew an ODI series in New Zealand. In his brief second tenure, Gaekwad guided India to the final of the ICC Knockout in 2000.
"He coached India in another era, but the current players have been inspired by the cricketers he coached during his successful stint," Patil noted in his column. "I'm no stats man, but I think Sachin Tendulkar was most successful during Anshu's term. Not for a moment I'm suggesting that all those runs came from Anshu's blade, but he was there when Sachin needed all the moral support to play his natural game and that was to blast away."
Gaekwad also served as a national selector in the 1990s and is currently the president of the Indian Cricketers' Association. Patil's plea highlights the need for the cricketing community to rally around one of its own during his time of need.
2024-07-02T11:57:15Z dg43tfdfdgfd