Corona update: Along with KL Rahul, four other players put their Memorabilia for auction To Raise Funds
Sports: The proliferation of the novel coronavirus [COVID-19] has caused a havoc across the global landscape. More than 2.5 million people have been infected by the pandemic while in excess of 1.7 lakh individuals have lost their lives globally.
In a bid to raise money for those affected by the contagion, several relief funds have been created and cricketers, just like other public figures, have come forward to contribute either via donation or by auctioning off their memorabilia.
Here’s a look at 5 cricketers who put memorabilia for auction to raise funds to fight COVID-19:
1. KL Rahul
The latest to join the bandwagon is stylish Indian batsman KL Rahul. The Karnataka batsman, who celebrated his 28th birthday recently, took to Twitter to announce that he will auctioning off his 2019 World Cup bat and other memorabilia, the proceeds of which will go to the Aware Foundation.
“I have decided to donate my cricket pads, my gloves, helmets and some of my jerseys to our collaboration partner Bharat Army. They are going to auction these things out and the funds will go towards the Aware Foundation,” Rahul said.
The Aware Foundation works to provide dispossessed and vulnerable childern in India the right to education.
2. Wasim akram
Wasim Akram is one of the greatest fast bowlers to have ever played, and certainly the greatest to have emerged from Pakistan, is beyond any doubt and question.But apart from being a great cricketer, Akram is also a philanthropist, who has time and again come forward for charity causes. In the wake of the current situation with regards to COVID-19, Wasim has once again come forward to do his bit. The legendary former fast bowler recently pledged a signed bat and ball for auction on behalf of the Centre of Philanthropy’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
3. Jos Buttler
England finally realized their dream of winning the 50-over World Cup and one of the prime architects in them winning the event, Jos Buttler decided to auction off his shirt in order to raise funds for medical equipments for COVID-19 patients.
“I’m going to be auctioning my World Cup Final shirt to raise funds for the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals charity. Last week they launched an emergency appeal to provide life saving equipment to help those affected during the Covid-19 outbreak.
The English wicketkeeper proceeded to put his shirt for sale on e-bay and after receiving 82 bids, the winning bid amounted to 65,100 pounds ($80,000).
The proceeds from auction will go to specialist heart and lung centers provided by the Royal Brompton and Harefield centers in London.
4. Mushfiqur Rahim
In a heartwarming gesture, Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim recently came forward to put his bat, with which he scored his maiden Test double-hundred- which also happens to be the first double-ton scored by a Bangladeshi batsman- against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2013 for auction, in order to raise funds for those affected by COVID-19.
“Definitely, the bat is very special to me because it is attached to history. Not everyone can become the first double centurion for his country. I had special liking for this bat. But there is nothing more important than human life and so I have decided to put it into the auction,” Mushfiqur Rahim said.
Rahim added that if he gets a good response in the auctions, he will put a few more things of his under the hammer.
5. Darren Gough
One of the spearheads of the English bowling unit in the 1990s and early 2000s, Darren Gough has also come forward to do his bit for the coronavirus affected people.
Gough, who played 58 Tests and 159 One-day Internationals for England between 1994-2006, has pledged a signed ball for auction on behalf of Centre of Philanthropy, who have set-up a COVID-19 Response Fund.
Darren Gough, who is the second-highest wicket-taker [235 at 26.42] for England in ODI cricket, claimed a total of 464 wickets across both formats of the game.