Bengaluru: With the deadly COIVD-19 on the rampage claiming the lives of many,  Congress MLC Mohan Kumar Kondajji has urged KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association) to come to the aid of former Cricketers, Umpires and other  sportspersons.

In a press release, Kondajji said that he has great respect for sportspersons. “It is very saddening to note that  we  lost Hockey players Ravindra Pal Singh and M.K. Kaushik, who were members  of the Olympic gold winning team due to the deadly pandemic,” he said.

Maintaining that it is happy to note that Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) have formed a group for helping former International sportspersons and Umpires, he said that, likewise, the KSCA should form a group to come to the aid of sportspersons.

The KSCA should also extend facilities to former cricketers, umpires and other sportspersons who are infected with the deadly virus, he added.

Continuing, Mohan Kondajji said that the KSCA has many buildings and vacant spaces at its command at places like Bengaluru (including the famous Chinnaswamy Stadium), Hubballi, Mysuru and Shivamogga. “The rooms available in these buildings should be converted for medical treatment of sportspersons. It is also important to extend financial help for former cricketers,” he pointed out.

Welcoming the BCCI’s decision to suspend IPL-2021, he urged the National Cricket body to cancel India’s tour of England, which features five Tests against England and WTC final match against New Zealand.

Highlighting the risks of touring England at a time when the Coronavirus is on a rampage, he said that our cricketers will get exposed to British mutant strain if the tour goes on as scheduled. The KSCA should use its offices to exert pressure on BCCI President Saurav Ganguly and Secretary Jay Shah to cancel the England tour, he added.