Irfan Pathan helps out a cobbler, who depends on the IPL for yearly income

It’s given the BCCI stands to lose a hefty amount if the Indian Premier League (IPL) ends up getting cancelled. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the situation to such that even pay-cuts are being discussed. Most of the personnel, associated with the T20 event, are concerned about their financial situation. But what if it’s someone, who looks up to the IPL for a majority of the income in a year.

It’s the case for Chennai-based cobbler R Bhaskaran, who has found the going tough without the income IPL gave him every year. Since 1993, he has watched every other international match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Moreover, for the last 12 years, he has been the official cobbler of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the three-time champions of the cash-rich tournament.

During match-days, he works from a small workstation outside the Players and Match Officials area and for normal days, Bhaskaran has a workstation on Wallajah Road. For the time being, the IPL 2020 stands postponed for an indefinite time period. It was scheduled to start on March 29, but the pandemic has threatened to play spoilsport. It has left the cobbler without income for two months.

Irfan Pathan- The manna from heaven

Bhaskaran earns Rs 500 every day and during April and May when the IPL takes place, his income doubles to Rs 1,000. In the meantime, Irfan Pathan, the former Indian cricketer, came out in his support. He called ESPNcricinfo’s Raunak Kapoor for the cobbler’s phone number, but the latter forgot to reply. Later, Kapoor got to know that Irfan reached out to Bhaskaran for some help.

Bhaskaran was straining to earn even Rs 150 per day and had to spend days on single meals. Pathan gave the cobbler around Rs 25,000, the average income earned by the latter in the IPL. The cobbler also reminisced the tough times when the IPL had to be moved away during the Cauvery Protests in 2018. That year, only one game was played at the Chepauk before Pune became CSK’s home match.

“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 by New Indian Express. It has also been learned that Irfan didn’t seek any credit for the work and wanted his name to not be mentioned.

As far as the IPL goes, it remains to be seen whether or not the tournament takes place. For scheduling the event, the BCCI is waiting for the ICC to take a call on the T20 World Cup in Australia. Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president, has said that they won’t mind hosting the IPL behind closed doors, keeping in mind the gravity of the current scenario.

With this gesture, Irfan Pathan has won the hearts of many on Social Media

Special stuff @IrfanPathan . Well done and to many more such small deeds of generosity from everyone. Sweet of you @RaunakRK to bring up to light such positive stuff as well during these grim times https://t.co/YFq1KJliIL

— DK (@DineshKarthik) June 15, 2020

Why @IrfanPathan is the hero we need, but don't deserve. https://t.co/LUgP6MuyHG

— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) June 15, 2020

Well done @IrfanPathan sir . https://t.co/qlNwujRauj

— Sai (@akakrcb6) June 15, 2020

For some inexplicable reason, always felt that he was capable of deeds like these. A heart as big as that smile that reflects the beauty of his soul. Thank you @IrfanPathan https://t.co/aqPSsCQgps

— RandomCricketPhotos&Videos (@RandomCricketP1) June 15, 2020

Respect🙏 https://t.co/gJ2zXQ8LQG

— Ram (@edgbaston_149) June 15, 2020

We need more people like Irfan Pathan in the country right now. https://t.co/8usN6NFUGK

— Niharika Raina (@niharika_raina) June 15, 2020

HUMANITY is the only thing that matters & if you can't understand this even after the Pandemic. I'm sorry to say, you are incurable. https://t.co/jsMtZpTLjr

— Sawera Pasha (@sawerapasha) June 15, 2020