Coronavirus Pandemic: Mumbai Cricket Association donates ₹50 lakhs to CM Relief Fund

Mumbai

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Thursday announced that it will donate ₹50 lakh to the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for tackling with the coronavirus pandemic. The decision was taken after the association chief, Dr. Vijay Patil, held a meeting via a video conference with the members of the apex council.

Additionally, the authorities also said that they are ready to hand over the stadiums to the state government for makeshift quarantine facilities.

A Mumbai Cricket Association official said that they will support the Government of Maharashtra in any way possible in its fight against this pandemic.

“If need be, we are ready to provide makeshift quarantine arrangements at the Wankhede Stadium as well. At this point time, it is important for all of us to come together and help each other,” MCA Secretary Sanjay Naik said.

With India facing a 21-day lockdown, the MCA has also postponed all its domestic tournaments till April 14 for the time being.

"The Mumbai Cricket Association has decided to postpone all its cricket matches, which were scheduled to be played between March 14 and April 14 due to the ongoing COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation," the city's cricket body said on it's official Twitter handle.

Mumbai Cricket Association has decided to postpone all its cricket matches which were scheduled to be played between 14th March and 14th April 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation.
— Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) (@MumbaiCricAssoc) March 25, 2020

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also delayed the launch of the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) this year.

The tournament was supposed to kick off on March 29 with a match between defending champions Mumbai Indians and their arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings. But the encounter has seems cancelled for now.

Along with MCA, the Cricket Association of Bengal also has donated ₹25 lakh to the West Bengal State administration to help combat the pandemic. The CAB chief, Avishek Dalmiya, also took cognisance of the situation and pledged to donate ₹5 lakh.