ICA helps blind cricket former captain Shekhar Naik with Rs 1 lakh

Shekhar Naik and (right) ICA president Ashok Malhotra

After mid-day highlighted last month the poor financial condition of India's two-time blind World Cup-winning cricket team captain Shekhar Naik, the cricketer has now received monetary help.

The lockdown had dried up Naik's finances due to which he had to take a Rs 1 lakh loan by mortgaging his wife's gold jewelry. However, on Sunday afternoon, Naik, 33, received a call from former India opener and Indian Cricketers Association (ICA) president Ashok Malhotra, informing him that the ICA will be granting him Rs 1 lakh. "This has happened only because of Malhotra sir and mid-day. I would like to express my gratitude to both. On May 28, mid-day had written about my financial struggles. Malhotra sir read about it and sanctioned R1 lakh," Naik, the only blind India cricketer to be honoured with the Padma Shri, told mid-day from Bangalore yesterday.

"I was struggling as my salary was held back during the lockdown. But now, I have also received 50 per cent of my salary [Rs 25,900] for the last two months [April and May] on June 1. My wife, Puja [31] and daughters, Purvika [10] and Sanvika [five] are most grateful. I will first release my wife's gold. I had taken the loan to pay the deposit for my rented flat," added Naik.

Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news