BCCI to contribute $6.8 million to PM’s fund to tackle coronavirus

(Reuters) – India’s cricket board (BCCI) announced yesterday that it will contribute 510 million rupees ($6.81 million) to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES Fund) to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

More than 615,600 people have been infected by the virus across the world and 28,316 have died. India has 933 confirmed cases with 20 deaths and the country was put on a 21-day lockdown until April 14.

Earlier this week, Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar contributed 5 million rupees ($66,777) to his state government of Maharashtra and the Prime Minister’s relief fund.

The pandemic forced India to call off a home one-day international series against South Africa after the first match before postponing the start of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament until April 15.