Melbourne, May 3: Australian Cricket will be throwing its support behind the┬аIndia┬аCOVID-19 Crisis Appeal, with┬аCricket Australia, the Australian Cricketers’ Association and UNICEF Australia partnering to raise much-needed funds. Australian Cricket has been deeply saddened by the devastation caused by this second coronavirus wave to hit┬аIndia, a country with which Australians share a strong friendship and connection.┬а Ravichandran AshwinтАЩs Wife Prithi Recounts FamilyтАЩs Ordeal With COVID-19 After тАШ6 Adults and 4 ChildrenтАЩ Tested Positive.
UNICEF Australia’s┬аIndia┬аCOVID-19 Crisis Appeal is procuring and installing oxygen generation plants in hospitals to treat seriously ill patients, providing testing equipment in heavily impacted districts, and supporting the acceleration of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout. Cricket Australia┬аwill make an initial donation of $50,000 and encourage Australians everywhere to give generously at this critical time in┬аIndia’s COVID-19 response.┬аCOVID-19 Situation in India ‘Quite Grim’, But Cricket Can ‘Still Bring a Lot of Joy’, Says Delhi Capitals Head Coach Ricky Ponting.
“Australians and┬аIndians share a special bond and, for many, our mutual love of cricket is central to that friendship. It has been distressing and saddening to learn of the suffering of so many of our┬аIndian sisters and brothers during the second wave of the coronavirus┬аpandemic┬аand our hearts go out to everyone impacted,” Nick Hockley,┬аCricket Australia’s Interim CEO said in an official statement.
“We were all deeply moved by the sentiments expressed and donations given by Pat Cummins and Brett Lee over the past week. In that same spirit, we are proud to partner with UNICEF Australia to raise funds that will help the people of┬аIndia┬аby providing the health system with much-needed oxygen, testing equipment and vaccines,” he added.
Earlier, Pat Cummins and Brett Lee had also donated their share to help┬аIndia┬аfight the┬аpandemic.
In welcoming the partnership with Australian Cricket, UNICEF Australia CEO Tony Stuart said he was heartened that a major sport such as cricket, and its players, who have had a long relationship with┬аIndia, and its people, recognised this urgent need to act now.
“We know that sport has the power to bring people together and there has never been a more important time,” Stuart said. “UNICEF has been working tirelessly throughout the┬аpandemic┬аand as the world’s largest children’s charity we know the devastating and life-long consequences this emergency will have, in particular, on children and young people,” he added.
The COVID-19┬аpandemic┬аhas gripped┬аIndia┬аand the country has been reporting more than 3, 00,000 new cases every day. This is the most number of cases being reported since the┬аpandemic┬аbroke out in 2020.
