In a wonderful gesture, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fast bowler Pat Cummins has made a generous contribution of $50,000 for India’s fight against Covid-19 and also urged his colleagues in the IPL to make contributions.
“India is a country I have come to love dearly over the years and the people here are one of the warmest and kindest I have met. To know so many are suffering so much this time saddens me greatly,” Cummins said in his statement.
“There has been quite a bit of discussion over here as to whether it is appropriate for IPL to continue while COVID-19 infection rates remain high. I am advised that the Indian Government is of the view that playing the IPL while the population is in lockdown provides a few hours of joy and respite each day at an otherwise difficult time for the country,” he said.
“As players we are privileged to have a platform that allows us to reach millions of people that we can use for good. With that in mind, I have made a contribution to the “PM Cares Fund,” specifically to purchase oxygen supplies for India’s hospitals,” the Australian seamer wrote.
“I encourage my fellow IPL players – and anyone around else the world who has been touched by India’s passion and generosity – to contribute. I will kick it off with $50,000,” he added.
— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30)
Cummins, who was signed for a record INR 15.5 crore (US$ 2 million approx.) last year, is part of a diminishing pool of Australian cricketers participating in IPL 2021. His compatriots Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) Andrew Tye have🍌 all pulled out of the remainder o🌊f the tournament.
India recorded over🌺 3.53 lakh COVID-19 cases on Monday, the highest across the world since the pandemic began in January last year.
