Mumbai, Jun 17 (IANS): Former Australia captain Steve Waugh's manager Harley Medcalf has raised Rs 1.5 lakh to help India's physically challenged cricketers, who are in financial troubles due to lockdown in wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

"One Australian world champion ex-captain's manager has now come forward to help the physically disabled cricketers of India during the tough period of Covid-19," Physically Challenged Cricket Association of India (PCCAI) secretary Ravi Chauhan said on Wednesday.

"An amount of Rs 5000 have been granted to nearly 30 disabled cricket players. This money has been directly transferred to the accounts of these extremely needy players," he added.

Medcalf took the initiative to help the disabled cricket players under the aegis of PCCAI.

"This just shows that Steve Waugh and his manager care for every disabled player. Every help is God-send for these players and they will always be thankful for this gesture of the Aussies."

"The efforts bore fruits and a sum of Rs 1,50,000 was collected. This money was transferred to 30 most needy players of PCCAI," said Chauhan.

Waugh's manager came to know about PCCAI, when earlier this year the former skipper had met these players for a project he had undertaken.

Recently, Waugh said that his former Australia teammate Shane Warne's comments on him are "a reflection of himself."

Warne and Waugh have shared a frayed relationship ever since the former was dropped for the 1999 tour of the West Indies.

"People keep saying it's a feud," the former Australian captain recently told The Sydney Morning Herald. "But to me, a feud between two people. I've never bought into it, so it's just one person.

Waugh was responding to rcent comments made by Warne in which the latter called him "the most selfish cricketer" he ever played with.