Former India batsman Jacob Martin on life support

What's the story?

Former India batsman Jacob Martin is on life support following the road accident he met with on December 28th. He has been hospitalized in a Vadodara Hospital and is now on a ventilator due to his injuries to lungs and liver.

The erstwhile Ranji Trophy-winning captain's family is appealing to the cricketing fraternity to help raise funds for his treatment.

The background

Jacob Martin represented in 10 ODIs for India between September 1999 and October 2001. He played for Baroda and Railways in domestic cricket. The right-hander led Baroda to their maiden Ranji Trophy victory by defeating Railways in the 2000-01 campaign.

Martin's final first-class appearance was in December 2009. In 2011, he was arrested by the Delhi police in a human trafficking case. He came out on bail and has been an active coach of Baroda's various age-group sides since then.

The details

Martin met with a road accident in December last year and has since been put on a ventilator as the damages to his liver and lungs became serious.

Martin's family has appealed to raise funds for the former cricketer's treatment and BCCI has stepped into action. BCCI has already sanctioned an amount of 5 lakhs rupees while the Baroda Cricket Association has contributed with 3 lakhs.

Former BCCI and BCA secretory Sanjay Patel has been on the forefront in raising funds for Martin's treatment.

"Once I came to know about the accident I tried to help Jacob's family in every possible way. I have spoken to a few well-wishers, including Samarjitsinh Gaekwad (member of the former ruling family of Baroda and former BCA president) who donated Rs 1 lakh and accumulated around Rs 5 lakh for his treatment", Patel told the Telegraph.

He added, "The hospital bills have already crossed Rs 11 lakh, and at one point, the hospital had even stopped providing medicine. The BCCI deposited the amount directly and the treatment hasn't been affected thereafter."