Bangladesh U-19 team’s World Cup winning captain Akbar Ali has decided to auction his jersey and batting gloves which he used during the 2020 edition’s final against India.
The junior Tigers skipper informed that the money raised from the auction will be spent for the people who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Akbar announced this on his social media account Thursday afternoon.
He said, “There is no doubt that winning the U-19 World Cup is the best achievement of my life so far. In this crisis time of coronavirus pandemic, I am putting up two of my souvenirs from the World Cup final (match jersey and batting gloves) for auction. The money raised from the auction will be spent on people who have been affected by the coronavirus.”
The junior Tigers won the 2020 edition after beating India by three wickets (Duckworth/Lewis method) in the grand finale in Potchefstroom, South Africa on February 9.
Bangladesh at one stage were in a spot of bother chasing India’s 177 but Akbar kept his cool, stroking an unbeaten 43 to guide his side to the title.
Akbar was later adjudged player of the final.
The Covid-19 outbreak is becoming worse in Bangladesh with each passing day as 7,667 positive cases and 168 deaths have been confirmed thus far, according to Directorate General of Health Services.
Many cricketers from the Bangladesh national team have come forward in this time of crisis, giving aid to the affected people.
ODI captain Tamim Iqbal has been involved in donations recently, including helping 91 sportspersons a few days ago.
All-rounder Shakib al Hasan put up his favorite bat for auction a few days ago, the one he used in the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales, and it was sold for Tk20 lakhs, which he gave away to a coronavirus fund.
Earlier, wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim also announced that he would auction his bat with which he scored the first ever double hundred in Bangladesh’s Test cricket history.