Australian legend and former Indian coach Greg Chappell is reportedly experiencing financial difficulties, prompting his friends to create an online fundraising platform to support him. The 75-year-old former Australian captain, who also had a controversial stint as the head coach of the Indian cricket team from 2005-2007, acknowledged that while he’s not in dire straits, he isn’t living a luxurious life due to his cricketing career.
Chappell clarified his situation, saying, “I’m not on the bones of my a**e. I certainly don’t want it to sound like we’re in desperate straits, because we’re not — but we’re not living in luxury either.” He highlighted the common misconception that former cricket players live in opulence, adding, “While I’m certainly not crying poor, we’re not reaping in the benefits that today’s players are.”
According to a report, Chappell also pointed out that he is not the only player from his era facing financial difficulties. Despite the significant changes in professional cricket since his retirement, he emphasized the need to support players from his generation, stating, “I believe the players that set the scene for what’s happening today should probably be recognized for the role they played in getting the game to where it is today.”
The report further disclosed that Chappell reluctantly agreed to the setup of a GoFundMe page for him, along with a testimonial lunch held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) last week. The event was hosted by Eddie McGuire and attended by cricket greats, including brothers Ian and Trevor Chappell.
Chappell, Dennis Lillee, and Rod Marsh were part of the iconic trio that defected to Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket in the late 1970s. Notably, unlike Lillee and Marsh, Chappell did not receive a fundraising testimonial at the conclusion of his cricketing career to provide financial support for his retirement.