Stakeholders get the ball rolling to 'Catch the Spirit' with India and Pakistan
Surrey and the MCC among the first to pledge their support West Indies and Bangladesh Boards contribute; Pakistan players also make donation Money targeting host of good causes in Asian subcontinent Charity auction of signed shirts, signed ‘Catch the Spirit’ flag and coin used for toss ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat: “This match is a great example of how cricket can be such a force for good”
High-profile cricket stakeholders got the ball rolling with charity donations as part of the ‘Catch the Spirit’ match between India and Pakistan at The Oval.
The hosts for Wednesday’s match, Surrey County Cricket Club, along with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), another of the venues for the ICC World Twenty20 2009, were among the first to pledge their support.
The West Indies Cricket Board and the Bangladesh Cricket Board agreed to contribute to the good causes targeted by the fund-raising and the Pakistan players are also making a donation.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “We are delighted that these groups have started the ball rolling with pledges of support. We thank them for that support and we look forward to others doing likewise.
“The more money we raise, the more that can be done for a host of good causes throughout the Asian subcontinent.
“Cricket can be such a force for good and this ‘Catch the Spirit’ match is a fantastic illustration of that fact.”
Donations can be made via the internet at www.justgiving.com/catchthespirit with the money distributed throughout the Asian subcontinent, with the ICC teaming up with organisations Peace and Sport and Cricket for Change to help determine appropriate causes for support.
Bank transfers can also be made* and there will be an online charity auction with signed playing shirts from the two teams, the coin used for the toss and the ‘Catch the Spirit’ flag signed by both captains immediately after the toss all available to the highest bidder.
The auction will run during the match and be accessible from www.catchthespirit.com.
To download free images from the ‘Catch the Spirit’ match, users need to go to http://iccfiles.sportcentric.org/index.php?dir=ICC+WT20+Images%2F, go to PAKvIND/ folder and click on the required image to download.
Images are for editorial use only and are copyright of the ICC.
The match is a sell-out and is the final warm-up match for both sides before the ICC World Twenty20 2009 begins when host England plays the Netherlands at Lord’s on Friday.
‘Catch the Spirit’ is one of the themes of the ICC Centenary year. It highlights the respect within which the game is played around the world.
In celebration of the spirit and diversity of cricket, ‘Catch the Spirit’ activities are being hosted across the world in 2009, bringing together cricketers across continents, countries and communities.
The ICC has joined with ‘Peace and Sport’ and ‘Cricket for Change’, organisations which will provide guidance and expertise in the delivery of the community-based projects in the Asian subcontinent.
Details of these organisations can be found at www.peace-sport.org and www.cricketforchange.org.uk.
* Bank transfers can be made to the following account:
Bank name and address: Standard Chartered Bank, P O Box No 999, Dubai, UAE
Account Name: International Cricket Council FZ LLC – Charity Account
Account Number: 02-3688666-01 – USD
SWIFT code: SCBLAEADXXX
The ICC World Twenty20 2009 involves 12 of the top men’s teams and the top eight women’s line-ups playing at four venues – Lord’s, The Oval, Trent Bridge and Taunton – in the pinnacle of international cricketing action. The defending men’s champion is India, which beat Pakistan in the final of the inaugural event, in South Africa in 2007. This is the first staging of the women’s tournament.
A limited number of tickets are still available for the ICC World Twenty20 2009. Further details can be found at:https://eticketing.co.uk/iccwt20
