Krunal Pandya (elder brother of Hardik) left a blank cheque with Patel, saying ‘Sir, please fill up whatever is needed, but nothing less than Rs 1 lakh’. He added that the amount should not be lesser than Rs 1 lakh. “Sir, please fill up whatever is needed, but nothing less than Rs 1 lakh,” Krunal told Sanjay Patel, former secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Baroda Cricket Association.
Krunal has made his India debut, in T20Is, this season.
“Martin’s family was in a dilemma, whether to appeal for help or not. Today, the situation is such that they don’t have to ask, members from the fraternity are asking about the amount to transfer,” a distinctly touched Patel said in an interaction with this Reporter.
According to Patel, Zaheer Khan made another call to him late on Sunday, repeating his wish to assist in “whatever manner is useful,” while Ashish Nehra too has joined the drive to help Martin quickly get back on his feet.
“Most overwhelming have been contributions of Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,000 from two ‘young cricketers’, one from Mumbai and the other from Ahmedabad. Look at how large-hearted they have been,” Patel said, emotionally.
Martin is still on ventilator support and the next “48 hours” are crucial.
