The West Indies are the reigning World Twenty20 champions
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
The West Indies will go up against an ICC Rest of the World XI in a one-off Twenty20 International charity match at Lord’s.
The match, which is scheduled to be held on May 31, will raise funds for two cricket grounds – James Ronald Webster Park in Anguilla and Dominica’s Windsor Park Stadium – that were damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the match will be deemed an international fixture. The one-off Twenty20 International will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Tickets for the match will be between £20 and £60, while all children’s tickets will be priced at £10.
In a statement on the Cricket West Indies website, the board’s president, Dave Cameron, said: “Hurricanes Irma and Maria have devastated parts of the Eastern Caribbean and we have been considering how CWI can best show support for our region in the most impactful way.
“I would like personally to thank MCC for agreeing to host the match at Lord’s, and ECB, especially their President Giles Clarke, for their kind and generous support of this initiative. I am sure the match will be highly entertaining and competitive, as well as a great platform for us to raise much-needed funds.”
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) chief executive and secretary, Guy Lavender, added: “MCC is delighted to be able to host this very special match. The last time that a match between West Indies and Rest of the World was held at Lord’s was in 1966.
“MCC has enjoyed a warm relationship with the people of the Caribbean for over a century, and is proud to be able to play a part in providing relief for the areas that were devastated by last year’s hurricanes. I am looking forward to seeing a capacity crowd to help raise funds to restore important cricket facilities.”
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves is excited about the match, and also expressed his delight that the ECB are playing a part in helping Cricket West Indies restore the two grounds that were damaged.
“To have two category 5 hurricanes in the space of two weeks was unprecedented and everyone around the world was shocked by the destruction which was caused,” he said. “The ECB and CWI have always enjoyed a fantastic relationship and we are keen to support them and the people of the Caribbean in this fundraising initiative.
“I would like to thank our partners, Sky Sports, for their immediate support by agreeing to broadcast this special International match, and MCC for agreeing to host it at Lord’s.”