The second wave of COVID-19 has hit the country hard and India is recording over 3.5 lakh cases regularly. India has also recorded over 4 lakh COVID-19 cases twice while the death toll has also been on the high side. The ongoing situation has seen few states observing lockdowns to curb the spread of the infection.
The country is also facing an acute shortage of beds, oxygen and other equipments. Amid this, the celebrities and common people have come forward and are donating to various relief funds.
Former India all-rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla has also done his bit in the fight against COVID-19. Shukla, who is celebrating his 40th birthday today (May 6), took to Twitter and announced that he will be donating his commentary fees of IPL 2021 to the West Bengal’s Chief Minister Relief Fund. The tournament was suspended due to COVID-19 cases in different camps.
Shukla, who quit politics earlier in the year, was Bengal’s Sports and Youth Affairs Minister from 2016 to 2021. He didn’t contest the 2021 elections.
“Today, 6th May 2021, on my Birthday, am humbly Donating my entire #IPL2021 commentary fees, to the #westbengal #CHIEFMINISTERRELIEF FUND. A small contribution to fight this disastrous 2nd wave Corona Situation ,from my end for my people WinCorona #COVID19 #StaySafe #India #LRS,” he wrote on Twitter.
A domestic legend, Shukla donned 3 ODI caps for the Men in Blue in 1999. He played 137 first-class, 141 List A and 81 T20s. An IPL winner, Shukla represented Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals in the T20 league. He had retired from competitive cricket in 2015.
Other players who have donated to different schemes
Pat Cummins contributed to a relief fund during IPL 2021. He donated a sum of $50000 to UNICEF Australia’s India COVID-19 Crisis Appeal. Brett Lee donated 1 bitcoin (Rs 43 lakhs) in the fight against COVID-19. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Nicholas Pooran, Jaydev Unadkat and Jason Behrendorff have also done their bit to help India.
