NRI Affairs Correspondent (Image: twitter.com/patcummins30)
Australian cricketer Pat Cummins has donated a whopping $50,000 to India’s PM Cares Fund to purchase oxygen supplies for India’s hospitals.
India is in a grim battle with a deadly second wave of Covid-19. In the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the second wave of Covid-19 has ‘shaken the nation’ as India continues to register a record number of coronavirus cases.
Many in India have died because of the inadequate Oxygen supply in the hospitals.
This has prompted Cummins to donate.
In a letter posted on Twitter, Cummins said, “India is a country I have come to love dearly over the years, and the people here are some of the warmest and kindest I have ever met.”
“To know so many are suffering so much at this time saddens me greatly.”
“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 hospital.”
Cummins has encouraged other IPL players to come forward and help India in these grave times.
“I encourage my fellow IPL players – and anyone around else the world who has been touched by India’s passion and generosity – to contribute,” he said.
“I know my donation isn’t much in the grand scheme of things, but I hope it will make a difference to someone.”
Earlier, former Australian cricketers Adam Gilchrist and Shoaib Akhtar had questioned the continuation of IPL when India is in a grim battle with a deadly second wave of Covid-19.
“Best wishes to all in India. Frightening Covid numbers. IPL continues. Inappropriate? Or important distraction each night? Whatever your thoughts, prayers are with you,” Gilchrist had posted on Twitter.
Cummins said, “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.”
India has lost more than 195,000 lives to Covid-19.
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