Anshuman Gaekwad and BCCI secretary Jay Shah

The BCCI announced on Sunday that it had released a sum of Rs 1 crore to assist in the cancer treatment of former player and coach Aunshuman Gaekwad.

On Sunday (July 14), the BCCI Apex Council released a statement to announce the release of funds worth INR 1 crore to former player and coach Aunshuman Gaekwad, who is currently battling blood cancer. The statement also revealed that board secretary Jay Shah spoke to Gaekwad's family to take stock of the situation.

This release of funds comes on the back of a public plea from Gaekwad's teammate, former India captain Kapil Dev. On Saturday, while speaking to Sportstar, Kapil had expressed dismay at Gaekwad's condition and hoped that the BCCI could provide some assistance, given Gaekwad's contributions to Indian cricket: "In our time, the Board did not have the money. Today, it has ,and should take care of the senior players from the past."

Gaekwad represented India a total of 55 times; in 40 Test matches and 15 ODIs. He garnered a reputation for his rock-solid defence and refusal to flinch against quality fast bowling, characteristics that earned him the nickname of The Great Wall. As a result, 22 of his 40 Tests (more than half) were against the West Indies, who, in that era, boasted of one of the most terrifying pace attacks of all time. His 450-minute 81 after copping several blows on an uneven Kingston pitch in 1976 is part of Indian cricket folklore.

Gaekwad also served as the head coach of the Indian team from 1997 to 1999 and briefly in 2000. His father Dattajirao played 11 times for India, in the 1950s and 1960s, and led them on the 1959 tour of England, while son Shatrunjay played 23 first-class matches for Baroda and had a brief spell with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2009.

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