World Cricket Tsunami Appeal

The World Cricket Tsunami Appeal was an effort by the International Cricket Council to raise funds to support the humanitarian relief efforts following the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004. It was scheduled to be held over two games but was reduced to one due to an over-crowded international playing schedule and concerns for players' health playing in the April heat in Kolkata. The match was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 10 January 2005.

One-day Internationals

The centrepiece of world cricket's efforts to support the victims of the tsunami was to have been a two-match one-day series between a World XI and an Asian XI. The first of these games was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia on 10 January 2005. The match was telecast in at least 122 countries. The second was to be held in Kolkata, India, originally scheduled for February 13, but on 28 January 2005 the ICC announced it would instead be played in the second half of April. The second match was cancelled on 28 February.

Related Topics:
Cricket - One-day - Melbourne Cricket Ground - Australia - 10 January - 2005 - Telecast - Kolkata - India - February 13 - 28 January - 28 February

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Travelex sponsored the first match, which was a 78,000 sell-out, for AUD 1 million. Two C-130H Hercules aircraft, similar to those used by the Royal Australian Air Force to carry supplies to regions devastated by the massive earthquake and resulting tsunamis, flew over the MCG during the break between innings. The first ODI, which the World XI won by 112 runs, raised approximately AUD 16m, while original estimations suggested only AUD 5m would be raised from the Australians.

Related Topics:
Travelex - AUD - C-130H Hercules - Royal Australian Air Force

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The games were designated as One-day Internationals by the ICC, the first time a game between teams not representing separate cricketing nations was so designated. This designation attracted criticism from cricket statisticians.

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