Pat Cummins donates COVID-19 funds to UNICEF instead of PM CARES fund

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Australian pacer Pat Cummins had announced that he would donate a sum of USD 50,000 towards the country to help it in its fight against COVID-19. He also said that the amount would be donated to the PM-CARES fund. The fund is a prerogative of the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to collect donations to assist the country in its fight against the virus. However, Cummins, on Monday, tweeted that he would donate to UNICEF Australia’s India COVID-19 Crisis Appeal instead.  

“Terrific work @CricketAus FYI I ended up allocating my donation to UNICEF Australia’s India COVID-19 Crisis Appeal. If you’re able to, please join many others in supporting this here,” Cummins tweeted.  

Terrific work @CricketAus

FYI I ended up allocating my donation to UNICEF Australia’s India COVID-19 Crisis Appeal.

If you’re able to, please join many others in supporting this here https://t.co/SUvGjlGRm8 https://t.co/1c0NE9PFdO

— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30) May 3, 2021

UNICEF Australia’s India COVID-19 Crisis Appeal is currently doing the task of procuring and installing oxygen generation plants in various hospitals to help with the treatment of seriously ill patients or those who have an urgent need for oxygen. The body is also providing COVID-testing equipment to cities and districts that are heavily affected and also supporting and helping in the fast rollout of COVID vaccines. 

Cricket Australia donation

Earlier, Cricket Australia had announced that they would be making a donation of USD 50,000 and also urge Australians to donate any amount possible to help alleviate the coronavirus crisis currently in India. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is currently underway in the country and several Australians are part of the competition. 

“Australians and Indians share a special bond and, for many, our mutual love of cricket is central to that friendship. It has been distressing and saddening to learn of the suffering of so many of our Indian sisters and brothers during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic and our hearts go out to everyone impacted,” Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley said in a statement. 

“We were all deeply moved by the sentiments expressed and donations given by Pat Cummins and Brett Lee over the past week. In that same spirit, we are proud to partner with UNICEF Australia to raise funds that will help the people of India by providing the health system with much-needed oxygen, testing equipment and vaccines,” he concluded.