Former India pacer Munaf Patel was recently seen back on the cricket field playing for India Legends in the recently organized Road Safety World Series. The pacer, who was part of India’s 2011 World Cup victory, has seen taken to social work in his village after saying goodbye to cricket.
Munaf hails from Ikhar village in Bharuch district in Gujarat and is currently spreading the message for social distancing after four people tested positive for Coronavirus, on April 10. The four cases were detected among members of a Majilis-e-Soora Jamaat traveling from Tamil Nadu and put up at a mosque on the outskirts of the village.
The local administration asked Munaf to help out in spreading the message of social distancing and the cricketer was more than happy to do so.
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“Things were normal till last week when four positive cases were found. The whole village has been sealed and we are under lockdown now. The panchayat and the committee which I’m part of has ensured that essential commodities reach homes.” Patel told The Indian Express.
“Barring a few places, most houses are spread out. It’s not like a city where one shares walls with neighbors. So social distancing is easy to follow in villages. It’s simple: Don’t stay in groups, wash your hands frequently,” Patel advises.
“The other day, the local administration wanted me to request people to follow social distancing; they took me to a nearby district and a small village. I went and requested the people to follow what has been told. I don’t want the virus to enter and create havoc in my village,” he said.
The local authorities were requested to allow the farmers to work in the fields since it was harvest time and has decided that poor families will be given priority; that ration will be sent to them first. The next task for Patel and his committee is handling the Ramzan period which starts on April 24.
“We are working towards Ramzan now. We have requested the vendors to store fruits and all other essential commodities. The panchayat and the committee have planned to cook food and distribute it door to door during Ramzan. Things are back to normal here. Those who were positive were taken for treatment and those who were in touch with them were sent for quarantine,” he added.
Here is a message by Munaf Patel in Gujarati shared on his Instagram:
