VIDEO: Former Pakistan captain Afridi buys Bangladesh cricketer Rahim's bat to raise funds for COVID-19 relief

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. Afridi has bought the bat for $20,000.

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, Mushfiqur said.

Mushfiqur also revealed that they had to suspend the auction following fraud biddings.  "We had to suspend the auction due to some fraud bidders, which was unexpected. 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, which is almost BDT1.68 million. He bought my bat with this money. I am really privileged," he said.

The Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman also posted a video message from Afridi on his Twitter handle.

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 said.

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