Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev are among big names of Indian cricket who have pledged to support the Indian Cricketers' Association (ICA) in its bid to help around 30 needy former players amid the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, ICA president Ashok Malhotra said. 

The institution, formed after BCCI's adoption of the Lodha committee recommendations to safeguard the players' interests, is striving to help former cricketers who need funds during this phase. 

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"Big names like Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Gautam Gambhir and Gundappa Viswanath have joined us and that is a major boost to our initiative. A corporate from Gujarat has also offered its support," Malhotra told PTI.

Former captain and Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) president, Mohammed Azharuddin, had pledged his support earlier this week. 

The donations will be accepted by the ICA till May 15, after which it will be shortlisting 5-6 cricketers from each zone (north, east, west, south and central) to give that money to. 

"Cricketers who don't have jobs, who don't get pension from the BCCI or their respective state associations will be offered help," said Malhotra. 

The ICA itself has contributed Rs 10 lakh towards the cause. 

India's first-ever players' association came into being last year and has as many as 1750 former cricketers registered. 

The BCCI had given an initial grant of Rs 2 crores in February to kickstart its operations. 

(Inputs from PTI)