Jadeja reaches out to quake-hit kids

Former India batsman Ajay Jadeja, banned from the game following match-fixing allegations, is looking to help the children of Bhuj who have been orphaned by the killer earthquake in Gujarat.

"I would like to do something for the children who have been orphaned by the quake," said Jadeja, who visited Bhuj with a bag full of chocolates and other goodies for the kids.

"I want to start when others have stopped," he added.

Jadeja was to join his uncle Shatru Saliasji, a former ruler of Kutch, in raising funds for the earthquake victims.

"I know a lot of industrialists, musicians and cricketers who will come here when an event will be organised keeping in mind the devastation," he said.

The cricketer's ancestral palace in Jamnagar was also badly damaged by the quake.

"We cannot live there anymore," said Jadeja, whose father Daulat Singh Jadeja was former Member of Parliament.

After staying with his uncle for a few days to work in Bhuj and contribute whatever he can for relief, he plans to go to Jamnagar.

Jadeja said he felt sad that the cricket community was not forthcoming in providing relief aid as desired.

On the cancellation of the Sharjah tri-nation series, which was planned to mobilise funds for the quake victims, he said: "Why go to Sharjah; we have enough grounds and facilities here to play the match to raise funds."

Mail Cricket Editor