Who is Anshuman Gaekwad, ex-cricketer being offered Rs 1 crore assistance from BCCI?

The BCCI on Sunday decided to release funds of Rs 1 crore for the treatment of former India player and coach Anshuman Gaekwad. The 1983 World Cup winning player is suffering from blood cancer and is currently undergoing treatment at King’s Hospital London.

"Mr. Jay Shah has instructed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to release Rs 1 crore with immediate effect to provide financial assistance to India's veteran cricketer Mr Anshuman Gaekwad, who is battling cancer," BCCI apex council said in a statement.

The move comes after former captain Kapil Dev appealed for help from the BCCI after the board announced Rs 125 crore in prize money for the T20 World Cup winning team.



"Shah has also spoken to Mr Gaekwad's family to take stock of the situation and extend support. The board stands by Gaekwad's family in this hour of crisis and will do whatever is essential for Mr Gaekwad's quick recovery," the statement continued.

"The BCCI will continue to monitor Mr Gaekwad's progress and is confident that he will come out of this phase strongly," it added.

Gaekwad represented India in 40 Tests and 15 ODIs from 1975 to 1987. He scored 1,985 runs in the longest format with a highest score of 201 against Pakistan.

He was appointed as team India’s coach from October 1997 to September 1999, where he handled a tough period of Indian cricket. He was reappointed for the role in 2000 when Kapil Dev quit from the position. He served for two months before John Wright took over.


Dev, along with former teammates like Mohinder Amarnath, Sunil Gavaskar, Sandeep Patil, and Ravi Shastri had called for financial support for Gaekwad’s treatment.

"It is sad and very depressing. I am in pain because I have played alongside Anshu and can't bear to see him in this state. No one should suffer. I know the Board will take care of him," Dev had told Sportstar.

The World Cup winning captain had also commented on the BCCI’s lack of system.

"Unfortunately, we don't have a system. It is great to see this generation of players make good money. It is good to see the support staff members also being paid well. In our time, the Board did not have the money. Today, it has and should take care of the senior players from the past," Dev said.