Cricket’s ‘Salman Khan’ battles financial woes amid coronavirus lockdown

Cricket’s ‘Salman Khan’ battles financial woes amid coronavirus lockdown

Battling anxiety, uncertainty, like all other professions, top cricketers are quarantined at their plush home amid the coronavirus lockdown. Some are enjoying the welcome break; others are looking at options to keep themselves fit. Taking the focus off the privileged lot, let’s meet Salman Khan, who is residing in a little tent which is near Cross Maidan in Mumbai.

Salman, 21, is the son of a groundsman, who waits for summer every year as it is the only time when his father can earn money by preparing grounds and camps. With the sports scene at a standstill amid the pandemic, and this has resulted in severe woes for the Khan family that’s struggling to make ends meet. 

Salman is an off-spinner who plies his trade from U-23 Mumbai team. The budding cricketer this year was geared up to play from Akash Tigers, a club from Mumbai Premier League (MPL). Salman was bought in the auction for Rs one lakh.

Though many may question if a lakh is enough? It’s certainly some money that could have helped Salman and his family to move to a rented home, importantly, a home with a roof.

The tweaker who grabbed four wickets in MPL Season 2 told The Indian Express, “Had MPL happened, I would have shifted my family from this tent to a rented place somewhere in Mumbai. But is bimaari ne sab tabaah kar diya (the pandemic smashed all hopes). I don’t have a job, and my limited savings are fast disappearing.”

Salman, who also decided to be part of Railways trials, is ambiguous of any ray of hope on that circuit. Though a few Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) officials are helping the young lad, he still waits for the free ration.

With the situation in Mumbai worsening, no cricket or any other sport in sight, the situation looks bleak for Salman and his likes. 

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