Australia fast bowler and Kolkata Knight Riders star, Pat Cummins on Monday said he is donating $50,000 to PM Cares Fund to help India’s fight against Covid-19. Cummins urged fellow players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 to extend help.
Pat Cummins, in a statement on social media, said he has made the donation to the PM Cares Fund, specifically to purchase oxygen supplies for India’s hospitals.
Cummins, who was bought by KKR for Rs 15.5 crore in 2020, has been an integral member of the 2-time champion side. The Australia fast bowler has featured in all 5 matches for KKR in IPL 2021.
Taking to social media, Cummins said it saddens him to see the suffering of people outside the bio-bubbles of IPL in the country. IPL 2021 is being held in strict bio-bubble environments across 6 major cities in India, which has been hit hard by the second wave of Covid-19.
“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.
“There has been quite a bit of discussion over here 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 added.
“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.”
The coronavirus caseload and death toll hit new records for a fifth straight day as India faced a deluge of over 3.52 lakh Covid-19 cases and 2,812 deaths in a single day.
Hospitals, overwhelmed by the surge in Covid-19 positive patients, said they were in crisis, with most hospitals full and running out of medical oxygen to treat critical patients.
