Jacob Martin, former India cricketer, on life support in hospital; gets help from Sourav Ganguly

Jacob Martin, who played 10 ODIs for the Indian cricket team from 1999 to 2001, is currently on life support in hospital after he met with a road accident on December 28 which resulted in injuries to his lungs and liver. Martin, who helped Baroda clinch the Ranji Trophy title in 2000/01, is currently getting treated in a Vadodara hospital and his family has appealed to the cricketing community to get some funds for his treatment. The BCCI have stepped in, along with several players like Irfan Pathan and Munaf Patel to help Martin. Even Sourav Ganguly, with whom Martin started his India career, has also stepped in to help the right-hander.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Ganguly recalled his experiences with Martin, whom he called an introvert. “Martin and I have been teammates and I remember him as a quiet, introvert-type of person. While praying for Martin's speedy recovery, I'd like his family to know that they don't stand alone,” Ganguly told the Newspaper. The effort to facilitate Martin’s treatment is currently being undertaken by Sanjay Patel, the former president of the BCCI and secretary of the Baroda Cricket Association.

Speaking in The Telegraph, Patel said, “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. 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.” Patel said.

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Martin made his debut in the three-match series against West Indies in 1999 and was also part of the Indian squad for the 1999/2000 Carlton and United tri-series in Australia. His highest score came against Pakistan in Perth in what turned out to be a miserable tour of India, winning just one game in the entire ODI competition and getting blanked 3-0 by an Australian team on top of their game. Martin played two more games during the 2000/01 season during the tri-series in South Africa which featured the hosts and Kenya.

After his India career, Martin led from the front and helped Baroda reach the Ranji Trophy final where they took on Railways at the Gujarat State Fertilizer Corporation Ground in Vadodara.

Former India cricketer and ex-Baroda coach Jacob Martin met with an accident and is in the hospital.
Wish you a speedy recovery Jacob bhai and praying for your wellbeing. #getwellsoon pic.twitter.com/FDUNI74i3C

— Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan) January 9, 2019

Baroda were all-out for 243 and Railways took a lead of 151. Martin led from the front with a brilliant 87 as Baroda set Railways a target of 223 but Zaheer Khan bowled brilliantly to finish with 5/43 and give Baroda their first triumph in the Ranji Trophy.

However, in 2011, Martin was in the news for all the wrong reasons after he was arrested in a case related to a 2003 human-trafficking case. The case alleged that Martin had taken a youth to the UK on the pretext of playing cricket there in exchange for money. The issue came to notice when one Nimesh Kumar was found travelling with a fake passport. He subsequently disclosed that his trip had been arranged with the help of Martin and an associate for a sum of Rs 7 lakh, according to a PTI report. Martin was released on bail.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Jacob Martin played 10 ODIs for India from 1999 to 2001.
• Martin suffered a road accident on December 28.
• Martin was arrested in 2011 in a human-trafficking related case.