West Indies will play an ICC Rest of the World X1 at Lord’s in England in May, to raise funds for the rebuilding of stadia in Dominica and Anguilla damaged by the passage of Hurricane Irma and Maria last year.
The Twenty20 scheduled for May 31, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and has been approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as a full international.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has partnered with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC and the England and Wales Board to stage the match.
CWI 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 am sure the match will be highly entertaining and competitive, as well as a great platform for us to raise much needed funds,” Cameron said.
ECCB chairman, Colin Graves said his board was always willing to assist much-needed funds.
And MCC Chief Executive and Secretary, Guy Lavender, said the event revived memories of a similar match hosted at Lord’s just over half-a-century ago, when Sir Gary Sobers led a Windies side against a World skippered by Australian Bob Simpson.
Last September Hurricanes Irma and Maria stormed through the Caribbean leaving billions of dollars in damages and resulting in over 50 deaths.
Windsor Park, the Test venue located in Dominica, was badly affected after the country took a direct hit from Hurricane Maria.
