NRI Affairs Desk
Former Australian cricketers Adam Gilchrist and Shoaib Akhtar have questioned the continuation of IPL at a time when India is in a grim battle with a deadly second wave of Covid-19.
As cases continue to soar in India, Adam Gilchrist has sent his wishes to ‘all in India’ via the social media site Twitter.
“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 posted on Twitter.
On Sunday, India recorded 349,691 coronavirus cases which is a new daily high. 2,767 deaths — the worst toll since the start of the pandemic were also recorded on Sunday.
Many Twitterati have questioned the silence of Indian cricketers over the issue as more than 192,000 people have died in India.
“Well put! Time for cricketers to think about the pandemic and do something to help people, and not their pocket,” Melbourne-based Dr Vikrant Kishore posted on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin says he is taking a break from this year’s IPL. Ashwin has been actively amplifying the COVID crisis and has been sharing information through Twitter.
“I would be taking a break from this year’s IPL from tomorrow. My family and extended family are putting up a fight against COVID19, and I want to support them during these tough times. I expect to return to play if things go in the right direction,” posted Ashwin, who plays for Delhi Capitals.
Tendulkar had tested positive for the virus on 27 March and had to be briefly hospitalised in Mumbai as a precautionary measure.
In a video posted on Twitter, Tendulkar urged others to donate plasma to save lives.
“I would like to give a message, which the doctors have told me to give. Last year, I had inaugurated a plasma donation centre and their message, if plasma is given at the right time, patients can recover faster,” said Sachin Tendulkar.
“I personally, when permissible, will donate it, and I have spoken to the doctors,” he added.
Australian Andrew Tye, who plays for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, has also decided to return home amid the Covid-19 crisis.
Cricketers Shubhman Gill, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal have all used Twitter in support of the healthcare workers and urged people to take the necessary precautions. Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer, now a coach with Punjab Kings has been sharing tweets of people calling for help.
Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar posted a heartwarming tweet urged his followers to help provide oxygen tanks to Indians, saying that we are all in it together. In another tweet, he urged BCCI to “rethink if it was a good time to continue the IPL”.
Former cricketer and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a tweet, “I want to express our solidarity with the people of India as they battle a dangerous wave of COVID-19. Our prayers for a speedy recovery go to all those suffering from the pandemic in our neighbourhood and the world. We must fight this global challenge confronting humanity together.”
In a tweet, Shahid Afridi offered support through his foundation.
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