When Irfan Pathan helped out a pantry staff, whose daughter was unwell

Irfan Pathan has received a lot of praises for helping out a Chennai-based cobbler, R Bhaskaran, who has been straining for income due to the postponement of Indian Premier League 2020. The cobbler has watched every international match since 1993 and is the official cobbler of the Chennai Super Kings. At the time of matches, he works from a workstation outside the Players and Match Officials area.

Getting to know about it, Irfan contacted ESPNcricinfo’s Raunak Kapoor and asked for R Bhaskaran’s number. Thereafter, it was learned that Irfan had given the cobbler Rs 25,000. The southpaw didn’t even ask for credit and wanted her name to not be revealed.

“Last week Irfan Pathan sent some money (Rs 25,000). I bought groceries for the family. Since there was no work, I had borrowed money and have to pay it back. I don’t know how I will survive. If cricket doesn’t return soon, I will be gone,” Bhaskaran was quoted as saying in the New Indian Express.

Another heartfelt step from Irfan Pathan

However, it’s not the first time that the former all-rounder has come out in support of the needy. Back in 2019, he along with VVS Laxman and Aakash Chopra, helped out a staff in the pantry whose daughter was unwell. The money reached the needy within a day. The revelation has been made by Anant Tyagi of Star Sports.

“He did the same thing along with @cricketaakash @VVSLaxman281 and many others last year. This was for 1 of our Star Sports staff who works in the pantry. Told them his daughter was extremely unwell. No questions asked. Transferred the money within a day of hearing the news,” the tweet read.

As far as the IPL is concerned, it was set to start on March 29 with the match between Mumbai Indians and CSK at the Wankhede Stadium. But the tournament had to be deferred for an indefinite time period due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Lately, Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president, said that they are ready to host the tournament behind closed doors. The BCCI is also waiting for the ICC to take a call on the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in October-November.