The Apollo Hospitals has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) to take care of injury management and emergency care of Indian cricketers. It is the first time, BCCI has entered into a pact with a healthcare institution in this regard, said sources.

According to a recently signed MoU with the board, Apollo will offer its services in 37 locations in India and abroad to any member of the Indian cricket team who requires injury management and emergency care. During the time of matches at various venues, Apollo will exclusively reserve beds for the team at the nearest Apollo hospital. BCCI would refer injured cricketers at various levels to Apollo hospitals, and Apollo would identify doctors, preferably in the same area or zone of the cricketer for his convenience for treatment and rehabilitation, informed a communication from the hospital.

Further, BCCI will refer cricketers selected for various national teams at various levels and tournaments for age assessment at Apollo, on an exclusive basis to the hospital.

Commenting on the pact, Dr Prathap Reddy, chairman, Apollo Hospitals, said it was indeed a wonderful opportunity for Apollo Hospitals to provide healthcare services to BCCI members, and since healthcare management was a pressing need in any sport, Apollo would extend its services to other sporting arenas as well.

"It is important to us that the health of Indian cricketers is entrusted in the right hands. Apollo Hospitals, Asia's leading healthcare provider and a trusted name in healthcare, gives us the confidence to do so. Moreover, Apollo's vast network and infrastructure enables us to receive healthcare support by the best doctors anywhere in the country," said Jagmohan Dalmia, president of BCCI.