Pathans' cricket academy to provide free meals to COVID-19 hit people of South Delhi
Delhi has emerged as one of the worst-hit cities as India grapples with a deadly COVID-19 second wave, leaving hospitals overflowing with patients.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan said on Wednesday his cricket academy will provide free meals to people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in South Delhi.
Delhi has emerged as one of the worst-hit cities as the country grapples with a deadly second wave of the pandemic, leaving hospitals overflowing with patients.
"While the nation is in the midst of the second wave of COVID-19, it becomes our responsibility to come together and assist the people in need. Taking inspiration from the same, Cricket Academy of Pathans (CAP) is going to provide free meals to COVID-19 affected people in South Delhi," Irfan tweeted.
Irfan, a high-quality swing bowler and a useful batsman, played 29 Tests and 120 ODIs for India during a fairly successful international career.
The 36-year-old all-rounder had himself contracted the virus in March after playing in the Road Safety World Series tournament in Raipur.
His elder brother Yusuf had also tested positive for the highly contagious virus after playing in the same tournament.
Irfan and Yusuf had donated 4,000 masks to the needy in a humanitarian gesture amid the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic last year.
Earlier this year, their father Mehmood Khan also extended his support in the fight against the unprecedented crisis, providing COVID-19 patients with free food through his charitable trust.
India has recorded over 21 million positive cases so far, with more than 2.3 lakh deaths, according to the World statistics platform Worldometer. From about, Delhi has recorded 12.3 lakh positive cases and more than 17,000 deaths in the state.
According to reports, the positivity rate has also come down in the city. While this was the highest in the third week of April, the numbers are beginning to show a gradual dip.
(Disclaimer: Additional background information has been added to this PTI copy for context)
Edited by Suman Singh