Sourav Ganguly gives away his BCCI pension to Ankit Keshri's family

Sourav Ganguly

In a heartwarming gesture for the recently deceased Ankit Keshri, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has decided to give away his Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) pension to the former Under-19 Bengal cricketer’s family. Apart from giving away his pension for this year, he has decided to use the pension that he will get in future years to fund the treatment of injured players registered under the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).

“It's my personal decision to fund the treatment of injured players, the ones that are CAB-registered. I will use the amount that I get as pension from the Board,” Ganguly, who is the current joint-secretary of the CAB, said while speaking to reporters after CAB’s finance committee meeting yesterday.

"I have also decided to give away my pension amount to Ankit's family," he added.

As per the pension scheme of the BCCI, former Test cricketers are given an amount of Rs 4,20,000 annually.

CAB treasurer Biswarup Dey informed that the board will also be donating Rs 10 lakh to Keshri’s family.

"We have proposed to give this amount to Ankit's family. The matter has to be passed through the working committee, though," he said.

Keshri’s death had led to accusations from his family that the medical facilities at the ground weren’t up to standard. In a step to ensure that they are well-equipped with any such contingencies in the future, Ganguly said: "The association will be buying three ambulances which will also have the necessary facilities."