Umpires Raise Funds Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic:
With cricket matches suspended in the city because of the lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, many local umpires and scorers, who rely solely on it, are facing financial problems.
However, thanks to a group of umpires headed by former member of the Managing Committee of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), and ex-BCCI umpire Ganesh Iyer, they are seeing a ray of hope.
The Umpires association has developed a fund specifically for the umpires and scorers whose livelihood depends on local matches.
“We, umpires, have formed a ‘Lending a Hand’ community to support umpires and scorers who rely on cricket for their livelihood,” Iyer told a leading Sports Website on Thursday.
“We appealed to the members to make voluntary contributions. We have also listed those scorers and umpires, whose livelihood depends on local matches.”We have been successful in raising Rs 2.5 lakh so far and the fundraising process will continue. Some of the existing Mumbai Cricket Association Apex Council members have also chipped in generously.”According to Iyer, Rs 3,000 will be given to each of the scorers and umpires individually.
“By Friday, 47 umpires and 15 scorers — a total of 62 people, each would have received the first sum of Rs 3000, the payment process began yesterday through credits directly into their bank accounts and the next instalments (will be given) in the next 7-10 days,” he said.
Iyer said few umpires and scorers, whose kids are well settled, didn’t take the money and asked the needy to help first.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in 50 deaths in the country so far and has infected 2,000 people, has brought cricketing activity around the globe to a halt. The deadly disease has claimed more than 40,000 lives worldwide.
