- Shamser Khalid
5 Cricketers and Their Charity Work
Many cricket players get themselves involved in different things outside of the field. There are also retired cricket figures that are involved in different businesses. Among these businesses happens to be charities. While not all athletes engage in charities or do charity-related work, there are more than a few cricket players that have made themselves for being generous figures. Some cricketers have even established their own charity organizations and business to help different people. These are just a few cricketers that have stood out for their charity after leaving a mark on the cricket field:
Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath is arguably the greatest fast bowler Australia has ever produced. He long held the record for most wickets (563) by a fast bowler in Test cricket before James Anderson broke it last year. He did well in white-ball cricket too and was the flag-bearer of Australia’s formidable bowling attack through the late 1990s and 2000s.
The New South Wales pacer bid adieu to the game in 2007. However, even before he retired, McGrath had started the McGrath Foundation. It was formed as a support for breast cancer and its education in Australia. McGrath’s wife Jane had been diagnosed with the same in the early 2000s. She got treatment but was re-diagnosed in 2003. Hence, that led to the creation of the organization in 2005.
Jane died in June 2008 and since then McGrath has been an active participant in working with the organization and raising funds all around Australia for cancer patients. They try to provide the best facilities for breast cancer patients and try to educate them on the same as well.
Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh is a cricket legend and an amazing all-rounder. But he's also doing something important off the field. He started a foundation called YouWeCan after he was diagnosed with cancer. Now, he runs the foundation with his mother.
YouWeCan is not just any foundation. It's also a fashion brand that raises money to support people with cancer. The foundation was started in 2012, and it's focused on four things: helping cancer survivors feel empowered, screening people for cancer, making sure everyone knows about cancer, and giving support to people who are getting treatment.
Yuvraj may have been a superstar on the cricket pitch, but his work with YouWeCan shows that he's also a superstar in real life.
Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi is a legendary cricketer, just like Imran Khan. But he's not just a star on the field. In 2014, he started the Shahid Afridi Foundation to help people with education and healthcare. The foundation now runs a maternity hospital in Kohat where poor people can get free treatment and medicine.
The foundation's main goal is to help people who don't have a lot of money or resources. They want to make sure everyone has access to good education, healthcare, water, and even sports rehabilitation. In times of emergencies, they also provide relief to those in need. Shahid Afridi may be known for his cricket skills, but he's also making a big difference in the lives of people in need.
Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan is one of the best bowlers to ever play cricket. He's taken an incredible 800 wickets in Test cricket, 534 in ODIs, and 18 in T20Is. No one else has taken more wickets than him in international cricket. It's no surprise that he's considered the greatest bowler of all time.
But Muralitharan isn't just a cricketing legend. He's also a humanitarian. He's been involved in charity work since his playing days. He set up the Foundation of Goodness in the village of Seenigama to help people with education, healthcare, housing, and more.
When the tsunami hit Sri Lanka, Muralitharan did everything he could to help. He made sure people had enough to eat and helped with relief efforts. He's also an ambassador for the United Nations' World Food Programme.
Steve Waugh
Steve Waugh, a legendary Australian cricketer, is known for not only his captaincy and batting skills but also his philanthropic work. After retiring from international cricket in 2004, he devoted himself to charity and helping children suffering from rare diseases. He established the Steve Waugh Foundation in 2009, which aims to support underprivileged children with rare diseases.
In 2010, Waugh visited India and raised funds to rehabilitate leprosy children with the Leprosy Mission in Kolkata. He was inspired by Mother Teresa's selfless work toward the poor and underprivileged, which changed his perspective on life. The foundation has since helped hundreds of children receive the care and support they need to overcome their illnesses.
Waugh's dedication to philanthropy has earned him several awards and recognitions, including the Order of Australia in 2011. He continues to work tirelessly towards his mission of improving the lives of children with rare diseases and is an inspiration to many.
