The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) on Wednesday announced that it would donate Rs 25 lakh (US$27,500) to West Bengal state administration to help combat the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. CAB president Avishek Dalmiya has also pledged Rs 5 lakh (US$5,500). The Bengal cricket body has become the first state association to pledge monetary support for tackling the crisis situation in India. Avishek Dalmiya said the CAB is in talks with the state government on how to donate the money and that they are ready to offer further assistance. "We have decided to donate a sum of Rs 25 lakh and personally I will be donating Rs 5 lakh. We're in talks with the state government on how to donate the money," CAB president Avishek Dalmiya said.
Earlier on Wednesday 25 April the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly said the CAB is ready to offer Eden Gardens indoor facility and players dormitory to the West Bengal government for use as quarantine facilities. "If the government asks us, we will certainly hand over the facility. Anything that is need of the hour, we will do it. The Covid-19 outbreak has brought life to standstill in India with more than 590 reported case and 11 deaths as of March 25. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a 21-day lockdown in the country in a bid to stop the spread of the virus.
