IPL'19: CSK donates Rs 2 crore to CRPF, military band performs at Chepauk

CSK captain MS Dhoni and team director R Srinivasan presented the cheque to the representatives of the CRPF during a felicitation ceremony organised by the BCCI for the martyrs.

Chennai: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) donated Rs 2 crore to the families of CRPF personnel through Bharat Ke Veer foundation during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 opening match here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.

40 armed force personnel were killed in a suicide bomb attack at Pulwama in Kashmir on February 14.

CSK captain MS Dhoni and team director R Srinivasan presented the cheque to the representatives of the CRPF during a felicitation ceremony organised by the BCCI for the martyrs.

Before the tournament begun CSK had announced that they would donate the entire money raised from ticket sales for the season opener of IPL 2019 against Royal Challengers Bangalore tothe CRPF.

Earlier on the day, BCCI donated Rs 20 crore, which was dedicated to the opening ceremony, to the Indian armed forces. Keeping the sentiments of the people of the country in mind in the aftermath of Pulwama attack BCCI abandoned the idea of the opening ceremony.

The military band performed at M A Chidambaram Stadium

Madras Regiment Band

Meanwhile, the toss for the season opener between CSK and RCB was advanced by 10 minutes as the Madras Regiment Band, based out of Chennai, performed the felicitation programme for the Indian Armed Forces, where the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will contribute Rs 20 crore for the welfare of armed forces.

Out of Rs 20 crore, Rs 11 crore was given to the Indian Army while Rs 7 crore was donated to the CRPF and Rs 1 crore each was given to the Navy and Air Force respectively.