The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also joined the bandwagon of lending support to the families of the soldiers who were martyred in Pulwama terror attack on Thursday. 40 CRPF soldiers lost their lives after a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden SUV into a bus carrying the army personnel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. The whole country has come together to contribute generously to the families of the martyred.
Here, BCCI acting president CK Khanna on Sunday wrote to the Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai to sanction an amount of Rs 5 crore for the families of the soldiers, who sacrificed their lives for the nation. Khanna also requested all the eight IPL franchises to contribute for the families of the martyrs. "We are saddened and join our fellow Indian citizens in condemning the dastardly Pulwama Terror attack. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers," Khanna wrote in a letter to COA, office bearers and state units.
"I request the Committee of Administrators that BCCI should contribute at least Rs 5 crore through the appropriate government agencies to the families of the martyred soldiers. I am also going to request the state associations and the respective Indian Premier League franchise owners to consider making contributions," he further wrote.
It is to be noted that on Saturday, Ranji Trophy champions Vidarbha donated their entire Irani Cup prize money for the families of the martyrs. The Faiz Fazal-led side won the game by first-innings lead after the match was drawn. Meanwhile, former cricketer Virender Sehwag offered to take care of the education of the children of the soldiers, who were martyred in the deadly attack.
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However khanna also requested a two-minute silence to be observed in the memory of the martyred during the first game of the T20I series between India and Australia, and the opening clash of the Indian Premier League 2019. "As a mark of respect to the Central Reserve Force personnel martyred in the terror attack, we should observe a two-minute silence during the first match of the India vs Australia series starting February 24, and during the opening ceremony/inaugural match of the Indian Premier League starting March 23," he wrote.
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