IPL 2021, Kolkata Knight Riders fast bowler Pat Cummins donated $50,000 to PM Cares Fund particularly to help India purchase oxygen supplies for India’s hospitals. He urged his IPL mates to contribute to the fight against Covid-19 at a time when India has been badly hit by the second wave.
Pat Cummins, who was bought by KKR for Rs 15.5 crore in 2020, has been an essential 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 expressed his sorrow to see the agony of the 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 struck viciously by the deadlier second wave of COVID-19.
He said, “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.”
He also said, “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.”
“As players, we are privileged to have a platform that allows us to reach millions of people that we can use for good. With that in mind, I have made a contribution to the ‘PM Cares Fund’, specifically to purchase oxygen supplies for India’s hospitals.
For the fifth day running in a row, India’s caseload was over 3.52 lakh COVID-19 cases and a historic 2,812 deaths in a single day.
Hospitals are running out of medical oxygen and beds and Pat Cummins’s generous gesture at such a devastating time in India is highly appreciated.