Sachin Tendulkar has joined the fight against the novel coronavirus, Covid-19, which has so far claimed 20 Indian lives, by donating INR 50 lakh (£ 54350 approx.).

Tendulkar joins a long list of prominent sportspersons the world over, including Lionel Messi and Roger Federer, to make a contribution in the fight against the pandemic.

In India, former captain MS Dhoni contributed a sum of INR 1 lakh (£ 1100 approx.) to a Pune-based NGO that is trying to raise funds for 100 families of daily wage workers. The Pathan brothers, Irfan and Yusuf, donated 4000 face masks in the form of aid to the Baroda police and health department, while BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has pledged to donate rice worth INR 50 lakh to those in government schools, for their safety and security.

Speaking to PTI, a source in the know of this latest gesture said: “Sachin Tendulkar decided to contribute Rs 25 lakh each to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and Chief Minister’s Relief Fund in his bid to join the fight against COVID-19. It was his decision that he wanted to contribute to both funds.”