Australian cricketers to take part in online-gaming fundraiser for UNICEF Australia’s India COVID-19 Appeal

The Australian cricketers have continued to provide assistance to India even after going back home from the suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 last month. The likes of Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will be taking part in an online-gaming event to raise money for UNICEF Australia’s India COVID-19 Appeal.

Left-arm pacer Josh Lalor came up with the fundraising idea which will see some of the biggest names in Australian cricket playing games online which will be streamed online for fans to watch. The target of the event is to raise $100,000.

The fundraiser will begin at 1:30 pm IST and will also see participation from all-rounder Moises Henriques, women cricketer Alyssa Healy and South African Rilee Rossouw among others.

“Being a cricketer from Australia, we have a unique relationship with Indian people.

“It’s a beautiful part of the world, they’re absolutely cricket mad and they bend over backwards to make every cricketer feel welcomed and accommodated. If we’re able to raise any money at all to help what’s going on in India, that’ll go a long way,” Lalor told cricket.com.au.

Cricket Australia’s new CEO, Nick Hockley and Todd Greenberg, the CEO of the Australian Cricketers’ Association will also make an appearance.

“I thought it’d be great for those guys (Hockley and Greenberg) to sit back and talk cricket with the public in a way they’re not used to. It’ll be a great opportunity for them to portray a slightly different message to the cricketing public,” Lalor said.

Australian Cricket has so far raised more than AUD 2,80,000 as part of UNICEF Australia’s India Covid-19 Crisis Appeal.

India is currently reeling under a devastating second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. On Wednesday, the country reported 1,32,788 new infections and 3,207.