Mumbai’s Ranji cricketers were the latest in line to help those afflicted by the pandemic.
ttmum
They may have sporting blood, but Mumbai’s finest have a lot of heart as well.
Vinayak Bhoir, Royston Dias and Hardik Tamore were among the 90-odd cricketers from the Mumbai Ranji cricket team who came forward during a voluntary blood donation drive in a camp organised by Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA).
"This is the first time I have donated blood," Vinayak Bhoir, a Triumph Knights Mumbai North East mainstay in T20 Mumbai, told the mid-day website.
"I hope we can help save a few lives through this initiative," he added.
Several MCA officials were also present during Monday’s drive, launched by the JJ Hospital, in Virar conducted in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
"I feel privileged to be able to help in whatever little way during this health crisis," left-arm seamer Royston Dias said.
"There is a severe shortage of blood and such camps are vital as they can help critical patients," reasoned the pacer, who has bowled for Shivaji Park Lions and the Knights.
The drive was done considering the advisory from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) for voluntary blood donations to fight the coronavirus outbreak.
The MCA previously donated 50 lakh rupees to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to help the state’s fight against the disease.
All heart from Mumbai
T20 Mumbai League Ambassador Sachin Tendulkar has also offered aid during these trying times.
He first donated ₹50 lakhs to a relief fund to fight the outbreak and then opted to feed 5,000 people for a month in Shivaji Nagar and Govandi area of Mumbai through a non-profit organization.
My best wishes to @ApnalayaTweets to continue your work in the service of the distressed and needy. Keep up your good work.🙏🏻 https://t.co/1ZPVLK7fFb
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 9, 2020
The Master Blaster also chose not to celebrate his birthday last month as a mark of respect to the frontline workers.
The eight teams of T20 Mumbai too made a contribution by donating ₹1 lakh each to aid the groundsmen of Mumbai's maidans.
Mumbai’s latest Ranji Trophy star, Sarfaraz Khan decided that he can put the money usually spent on Eid celebrations to better use and even helped distribute food to migrant workers in Uttar Pradesh.
Teenager Yashasvi Jaiswal stepped on the frontfoot to bail out Mumbai's groundsmen, volunteering to provide basic daily essentials to the afflicted groundsmen at several maidans in Mumbai.
Currently, all cricket has been suspended since mid-March due to the ongoing pandemic.
