22 cricketers take guard for a 11-yr-old

It was sportmanship at its best at Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium, Motera, on Saturday. Twenty two cricketers from across the country played a...

It was sportmanship at its best at Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium, Motera, on Saturday. Twenty two cricketers from across the country played a game for a little girl, about whom they knew very little. The match was not so much about winning, but to show a fellow player that they cared and would help his daughter win her battle for life. They proved that their responsibilities stretched beyond the playground.

Ex-Baroda cricketer Kedar Chavan’s 11-year-old daughter Kaveri Chavan, suffering from hydrocephalus — a life-threatening abnormal brain condition — had to go abroad for treatment. And it could cost about Rs 25 lakh. Kedar appealed for help and national cricketers responded with a Kedar Chavan Benefit Day Night Match.

‘‘It is the duty of a cricketer to play such benefit matches to help people,’’ said VVS Laxman before of the match.

‘‘About a month ago, Kedar called me up and asked me to play in this match and I readily agreed. I am very happy to play here as this will help in funding Kaveri’s treatment,’’ he added. The biggest sportstar of the evening Rahul Dravid said, ‘‘I have known Kedar for sometime now. Last month, I got a call from Kedar and I told him that I would be more than glad to play the match.’’ Some other big names, who had promised to play but did not turn up, like Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Mohammed Kaif, did disappoint the huge crowd which had turned out to see the sporting heroes in action. But all was forgotten when the match, between Left Handers XI and Right Handers XI, started. Rahul Dravid got out early, but the crowd of nearly 15,000 cheered every run and every wicket.