Shahid Afridi pays $20,000 for Mushfiqur Rahim's historic bat as fake bids derail charity auction

Former Pakistan captain steps in to help coronavirus fund

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim raises his bat and helmet in celebration after scoring a double century against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle on March 11, 2013. AFP

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has stepped in to buy a bat owned by Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim after a charity auction for coronavirus victims was derailed by fake bids.

Mushfiqur put the bat he used to score Bangladesh's first Test double hundred in 2013 against Sri Lanka up for the highest bidder online this week.

But organisers called off the auction as fake offers sent the price soaring over $50,000 (Dh185,000), Mushfiqur said.

"Afridi contacted me personally and I sent him a link of the bid," he said in an online forum.

"On May 13 he sent me a letter and offered $20,000. He bought my bat with this money. I am really privileged," he said.

Mushfiqur's management firm said the money would go to a development charity and to help people with coronavirus.

Afridi, who has his own foundation, said his purchase was a good one. "We are faced with tough times and the need to help the poor is more in these times," he told AFP.

Mushfiqur was the second Bangladeshi cricketer to raise coronavirus funds by selling a bat. Suspended all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan last month made nearly $24,000 for the one he used in the 2019 World Cup.