The BCCI, along with its affiliated state associations, will donate INR 51 crore to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-Cares Fund), an emergency relief fund set up by the Indian government to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

India is currently under a 21-day lockdown to help curb the spread of the virus.

A statement from the BCCI on Saturday said: “The outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-1) is first and foremost a public health emergency and the BCCI has a firm resolve that the nation gets all possible help to cope with the testing times.

“The BCCI will contribute to Hon’ble Prime Minister’s initiative which is a dedicated national fund (PM-CARES Fund) with the primary objective of dealing with emergency or distress situations.”

“The Board along with its state associations will continue to monitor and work closely with the Government of India, state governments and other state regulatory bodies and are committed to providing support to the state machinery in the face of adversity.”

India batsman Suresh Raina was met by praise on the same day from Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, for pledging to donate INR 52 lakhs to funds to tackle Covid-19.

That’s a brilliant fifty, @ImRaina! #IndiaFightsCorona https://t.co/O6vY4L6Quo

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 28, 2020

“That’s a brilliant fifty,” tweeted Modi in response to a tweet from Raina sharing his pledge.