Rohit Sharma sign certificates for blood donors on occasion of CAB's Foundation Day

The 92nd Foundation Day of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) will be celebrated on Monday with, among other events, a voluntary blood donation camp at the Eden Gardens as well as in the districts.

A special badge with the name of the blood donor and a certificate signed by Indian limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma will mark the 40th Sir Frank Worrell Day celebrated on the occasion of CAB's Foundation Day.

CAB Jt. Secretary Debabrata Das said, "This year is very special to us as it marks the fortieth edition of the noble event. A special badge will be made for every donor with his/her name engraved on it."

"The exhibition match will be played between CAB President's XI and Chairman Board of Trustees XI on February 15 instead of the event day," he added.

"Before IPL season we will distribute the badges to the donors," said CAB Vice-President Naresh Ojha.

In 1962 Nari Contractor, the then captain of the Indian touring team to West Indies was hit by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith causing a serious head injury. A surgeon was specially flown from New York to perform emergency lifesaving neurosurgery operation.

He required a considerable quantity of blood for survival led by West Indies captain Sir Frank Worrell took the initiative and the players of the two teams as well as others donated blood for Contractor.

Though the Indian captain never played Test cricket again, he survived.

It was so long ago. But even today, the Indians have not forgotten Sir Frank's act of benevolence. He represented everything that the glorious game of cricket stood for. Yet, it was irony of fate that this great gentleman cricketer met an untimely end in March 1967, as a result of leukaemia.

In remembrance of the humanitarian act, CAB has been celebrating it along with the association's Foundation day and this year 'Ujaan' will perform to mark the special occasion.

Blood donation will take place in all the subdivisions of all the districts and with the participation of 10 Government Blood Banks on Monday.