Kapil Dev, the former India captain, is delighted with India’s fourth World Cup victory, but his joy is overshadowed by the distress he feels for former India opener and coach Aunshuman Gaekwad, who is battling blood cancer and facing financial difficulties in meeting his medical expenses. Kapil, along with fellow teammates Mohinder Amarnath, Sunil Gavaskar, Sandeep Patil, Dilip Vengsarkar, Madan Lal, Ravi Shastri, and Kirti Azad, are actively reaching out to friends and corporations for support during this challenging time.
Kapil, deeply moved by Gaekwad’s plight, emphasizes that no one should suffer and expresses hope that the BCCI will take care of him. He calls upon cricket fans to pray for Gaekwad’s recovery, highlighting his immense contributions to the sport. He acknowledges that the current generation of players enjoys significant financial benefits, but emphasizes the lack of a system to support former players who might face medical emergencies. He advocates for the establishment of a trust to handle such contingencies, emphasizing that the BCCI has the resources to do so.
Kapil, along with the 1983 World Cup-winning team, is ready to contribute by donating their pension amounts if the family allows. He further urges the BCCI to establish a three-member committee of eminent cricketers to handle medical cases for former players. He underlines the importance of looking after retired players who may have faced financial hardship during their careers, highlighting that they deserve proper care during medical emergencies.
Gaekwad, who played 40 Tests and 205 First Class matches in his career, has returned from London after a month of treatment and is currently undergoing treatment in Baroda. He is remembered for his coaching contributions, particularly during the 1998 Sharjah series and the historic 1999 Ferozeshah Kotla match where Anil Kumble took all ten wickets in an innings against Pakistan.
