Official ODI Status Awarded to World Cricket Tsunami Appeal Matches

The International Cricket Council today announced that the World Cricket Tsunami Appeal matches will have official One-Day International status.

ICC President Ehsan Mani said that the decision was confirmed by a vote of the ICC Executive Board due to the exceptional nature of the matches in which players from all ICC Full Member countries are available to play.

“The ICC Board is of the view that due to the extraordinary circumstances that have brought about these two matches an exception to the existing rules should be made,” said Mr Mani.

“This decision applies only to these two matches and does not change the status of other one-day matches from the past or in the future.”

In the first World Cricket Tsunami Appeal match in Melbourne on Monday 10 January, the ICC World XI will include top players from Australia, England, New Zealand and the West Indies while the ACC Asian XI will include leading players from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The proceeds from the match in Melbourne will be donated to the global relief and development organization, World Vision, which is dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide.

World Vision has staff across the Asian region and is providing food and Family Survival Kits to the countries devastated by the earthquake and tsunami.

Cricket fans around the world can donate to World Vision by visiting the ICC website at http://www.icc-cricket.com/ and following the relevant links.

ICC contacts:

In London:

Jon Long
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 266 7912
Mob: + 44 (0) 7946 545 090
Email: mailtjon.long@icc-cricket.com

In Melbourne:
Brendan McClements
Mob: + 44 (0) 7786 194 974

Hilary Marshall
Mob: + 61 (0) 405831778
Email: mailthilary.marshall@icc-cricket.com